Ten per cent of government jobs and college seats will now be reserved for people outside high income brackets as President Ram Nath Kovind cleared a landmark bill passed by parliament this week.
Under the new amendment to the constitution, floated by the BJP weeks after three state election defeats, people with an annual income below Rs. 8 lakh and owning fewer than five acres of land would be eligible.
The bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and Rajya Sabha a day later.
India already has job and education quotas for its lowest social classes, but this is the first time upper caste Hindus and people from other religions will benefit from affirmative action.
