Maharashtra Revokes 5% Reservation for Muslims | 19 Feb 2026

Why in News?

The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, revoked a decade-old 5% reservation for socially and educationally backward sections of the Muslim community.

Key Points: 

• Reservation: Maharashtra had earlier provided 5% reservation to Muslims by identifying certain Muslim communities as educationally and socially backward, not merely on the basis of religion. 
  • The policy was framed in the context of empirical findings indicating socio-economic deprivation among specific groups within the Muslim community. 
  • The reservation was originally introduced in July 2014 via an ordinance by the then Congress-NCP government. 
• Legal Standing: The quota had remained in a "legal limbo" for over a decade.  
  • The 2014 ordinance was never converted into law by the state legislature and had lapsed in December 2014. 
• Reasons Cited for Revocation: The state government has justified the withdrawal on multiple grounds: 
  • Constitutional Concerns: Articles 15(1) and 16(2) of the Constitution prohibit discrimination solely on the grounds of religion. 
    • Reservation policies must be based on social and educational backwardness, not religious identity per se. 
  • Judicial Scrutiny and Precedents: Courts, including the Supreme Court of India, have consistently held that religion cannot be the sole basis for affirmative action. 
• Immediate Impacts: Cessation of the issuance of Special Backward Category-A (SBC-A) caste and validity certificates for Muslims.