Development process in a market economy leads to widening of interpersonal and interregional inequalities. Historically, in the Indian society, interaction of caste, class, gender and religious identities had a strong bearing on distribution of the fruits of development outcomes. To ensure equity-based access to the benefits of socio-economic development, Indian Constitution provides reservation to the deprived sections in educational institutions and public sector job market.
This book is based on a comprehensive primary survey-led major research project sponsored by the ICSSR. This is first of its kind study to determine the socio-economic and educational status of OBC/Dalit Muslims in comparison to other socio-religious groups in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Findings of the study are very illuminating as it seeks to settle many issues and controversies regarding the reservation policy in India, inform policy makers for formulating development programmes for the deprived sections of the society, and provoke researchers to undertake further research studies on the subject.