Bhagidari Bhawan in lucknow stands tall as a symbol of public investment, built with taxpayers’ money. Inside, free UPSC coaching is provided to aspirants—but only if they belong to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Classes. While the intent is to uplift historically marginalized groups, the policy raises a pressing question: if taxes are collected from every caste, why are the benefits restricted to only a few?
No one disputes the need for affirmative action. Generations of systemic disadvantage cannot be undone without targeted support. Yet, when it comes to public services funded by the exchequer, fairness demands a more inclusive approach. Thousands of poor students from the General Category (GC) also struggle with financial barriers. Their aspirations are no less valid, and their contribution to the national tax pool is equally significant.
Restricting such opportunities risks deepening divisions rather than bridging them. A more balanced framework—where disadvantaged candidates from all communities can access help, perhaps through means-based criteria—would uphold both social justice and economic fairness. Taxpayers deserve policies that empower the weakest sections across society, not schemes that pit one group’s access against another’s exclusion. For a country that prides itself on equality, it is time to rethink whether such selective coaching programs truly reflect the spirit of the Constitution.
No one disputes the need for affirmative action. Generations of systemic disadvantage cannot be undone without targeted support. Yet, when it comes to public services funded by the exchequer, fairness demands a more inclusive approach. Thousands of poor students from the General Category (GC) also struggle with financial barriers. Their aspirations are no less valid, and their contribution to the national tax pool is equally significant.
Restricting such opportunities risks deepening divisions rather than bridging them. A more balanced framework—where disadvantaged candidates from all communities can access help, perhaps through means-based criteria—would uphold both social justice and economic fairness. Taxpayers deserve policies that empower the weakest sections across society, not schemes that pit one group’s access against another’s exclusion. For a country that prides itself on equality, it is time to rethink whether such selective coaching programs truly reflect the spirit of the Constitution.
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