On the last day of the winter session of the Lok Sabha, the BJPled government on Tuesday tabled a constitutional amendment bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in jobs and higher education to economically backward sections among the upper castes. The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Fourth Amendment) Bill on Monday. Now that it has been passed in the Lower House, the Bill will be moved in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday — the winter session has been extended by a day for members in the Upper House. The Bill needs to be passed by a special majority of twothirds of members present in each House, not less than half the strength in both. Following this, it will have to be ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. It will also have to face legal challenges if any. On this edition of the big picture we analyse the Constitution 124th Amendment Bill.

Anchor Frank Rausan Pereira

Guest

Ashok Tandon, Senior Journalist

J. Sai Deepak, Advocate, Supreme Court

P. K. Malhotra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Law, GoI