The debate on the proposed 27 per cent OBC reservations has so far been vitiated by an absence of data. However, data generated over the past few days throw some fresh light on the reality.

In the latest IIT entrance examination, 243,072 students took the test of whom 45,576 (19 per cent) were from the OBC. In all, 4,295 (1.75 per cent) joined, of whom 590 were OBCs (990 qualified). It appears that at 2 per cent, the success rate of OBC candidates was slightly higher than the average. Some 40 per cent of those who qualified did not join, apparently because they did not get the discipline of their choice.

Incidentally, the 61st Round of National Statistical Survey states that 41 per cent of the population assesses itself as OBC and that “others” constituted 31 per cent. From these statistics, the following conclusions may be drawn: First, in proportion to their population, OBC applicants should have been about 1,33,000 but barely 45,500 took the test. Just as in the case of the girl child, many OBC candidates are “missing”. The percentage missing is as high as 66. Second, at a little over 2 per cent, the pass percentage of OBC candidates was slightly above average. Apparently, they suffer no intellectual handicap. Three, 40 per cent of successful OBC candidates did not take admission. When 40 per cent OBC candidates have already rejected admission offers, the government’s insistence that 9 per cent more seats be added for OBCs with immediate effect appears strange.

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