Protests Against Mandal Commission

The Mandal Commission, established in 1979 in India, aimed to identify socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) for job reservations. Protests erupted in the late 1980s when the government decided to implement its recommendations, which included a 27% quota for these groups in public employment and education. Opponents, primarily from higher caste communities, argued that this system would lead to reverse discrimination and exacerbate social tensions. Violent protests, particularly in 1990, reflected deep societal divisions over caste, fairness, and the implications of reservation policies, sparking a nationwide debate on caste-based affirmative action.