Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said caste-based reservations in education and employment should continue until social inequality is eliminated [1].
This stance is significant because it aligns the leadership of the influential right-wing organization with the continuation of affirmative action policies, a central and often contentious pillar of Indian social and political life.
Speaking at an International Institute of Management and UN (IIMUN) event in Mumbai on Thursday, Bhagwat said that reservations are necessary because social discrimination and inequality persist [1], [2]. He framed these quotas as a temporary tool intended for social upliftment, noting that this approach is in line with the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar [1], [2].
While supporting the system's continuation, Bhagwat addressed the distribution of these benefits. He said beneficiaries who have already progressed socially and economically should voluntarily give up their quota advantages to allow others to benefit [1], [3].
Bhagwat's comments emphasize a dual approach: maintaining the systemic structure of reservations to protect marginalized groups while encouraging individual responsibility among those who have achieved stability through the system [1], [3]. This suggests a preference for a self-regulating mechanism to ensure that benefits reach the most needy within the reserved categories [1].
Throughout the event, the RSS chief said that the ultimate goal is the disappearance of the social divisions that make such reservations necessary in the first place [1], [2].
“Caste-based reservations in education and employment should continue until social inequality is eliminated”
By supporting the continuation of reservations, Bhagwat is navigating a complex political landscape where the RSS must balance its ideological goals with the practical reality of caste dynamics in India. His call for voluntary relinquishment of quotas reflects a push toward 'creamy layer' logic — the idea that those who have already benefited from affirmative action should step aside for the most disadvantaged — without explicitly calling for a government-mandated overhaul of the current quota system.
