REFERENCE GUIDE
AIPPM - All India Political Parties Meet
Agenda: “Discussion on the Role of the Caste System in
Contemporary India: Evaluating its Impact as an Instrument of
Empowerment or a Source of Division.”
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMITTEE.
The All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM) is a simulation designed to
replicate informal yet politically significant discussions between major
political figures. Delegates represent real political leaders, maintaining their
tone, ideology, alliances, and policy approach.
The focus of this committee is negotiation, debate, political accountability,
and structured problem-solving within India’s socio-political landscape.
2. AGENDA OVERVIEW
The caste system continues to influence India’s social hierarchies, political
alliances, economic access, and institutional structures. This agenda seeks
to evaluate whether caste functions today as a mechanism of
empowerment for marginalized communities or whether it reinforces social
and political divisions.
This committee will not debate the removal or revocation of reservations.
Instead, it aims to highlight the major issues within SC/ST reservation
implementation, including administrative problems, intersectional
disparities, misuse, and unequal access. Delegates will also analyse the
persistent political blame game between ruling and opposition parties that
often obstructs meaningful reform.
The committee encourages deeper examination of how caste politics is
used, contested, defended, and weaponised in contemporary India.
3. OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE
Delegates are expected to:
● Understand the dual nature of the caste system in modern India.
● Examine issues in SC/ST reservation implementation, not reservation
removal.
● Critically evaluate the political narratives, accusations, and
counter-accusations between various national and regional parties.
● Reflect their leader’s ideology, alliances, and policy history.
● Suggest constructive, constitutionally valid reforms.
4. BACKGROUND: CONTEMPORARY CASTE
POLITICS
● Caste influences electoral coalitions, welfare planning, and regional
political strategies.
● SC/ST reservations are constitutionally protected tools of affirmative
action, yet suffer from poor implementation, lack of equitable
distribution, bureaucratic delays, and internal disparities.
● Central and state governments frequently accuse each other of
politicising caste, while opposition parties highlight failures in
protection and development of marginalized communities.
● Social discrimination persists despite constitutional safeguards.
● Ground-level inequalities within SC/ST communities themselves
(dominant sub-castes versus marginalized sub-groups) continue to
fuel dissatisfaction and demand for review.
5. POLICY DIMENSIONS TO EXPLORE
● Current status of SC/ST reservation in education and employment
● Administrative inefficiencies: certificate delays, misuse, corruption
● Representation gaps in higher bureaucracy, judiciary, academia
● Internal inequalities within SC/ST communities
● Caste-based violence and failure of existing protection mechanisms
● Vote-bank politics and electoral manipulation
● Need for institutional strengthening (NCSC, NCST, Social Justice
Ministry)
● Technology and awareness for accessing reservation benefits
●State vs Centre politics on caste decisions
6. SUGGESTED MODERATED CAUCUS TOPICS
1. Administrative Challenges in SC/ST Reservation Implementation: Addressing
Inefficiencies, Misuse, and Barriers to Access.
2. Assessing Government and Institutional Accountability in Protecting
Marginalized Communities: Identifying Gaps, Failures, and Potential Reforms.
3. Internal Disparities Within SC/ST Communities: Should Policy Prioritisation
and Sub-Categorisation Be Considered?
4. Strengthening Reservation Without Challenging Its Constitutional Mandate:
Exploring Practical, Inclusive Reforms.
7. RECOMMENDED READINGS
● Constitution of India – Articles 15, 16, 17, 46, 330, 332
● SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
● Mandal Commission recommendations
● Annual reports of NCSC and NCST
● Relevant speeches, interviews, and policy statements of your
assigned leader
ADDITIONAL SECTIONS
8. MAJOR TIMELINES (HISTORICAL & CONTEMPORARY)
● Pre-1950: Caste-based discrimination prevalent; limited
political representation for SC/ST communities.
●1950: Constitution of India guarantees equality; SC/ST
reservations formally introduced.
● 1955–1980: Growth of anti-discrimination legal frameworks.
● 1980: Submission of the Mandal Commission report.
● 1990: Implementation of OBC reservation; intensification of
caste-based political mobilisation.
●2006: Introduction of reservation in Central educational
institutions.
● 2016–2024: Rise in state-level demands for new caste
surveys, sub-categorisation, and review of implementation
gaps.
● Present: Increased national debate on SC/ST reservation
access, misuse, benefits, and administrative reforms.
9. KEY STAKEHOLDERS
● Central Government: Implements national-level reservation
policies and welfare schemes.
● State Governments: Handle caste certificates, local
reservation lists, protection mechanisms, and welfare
distribution.
● Political Parties: Shape caste-based political narratives,
alliances, and electoral strategies.
● NCSC & NCST: Constitutional bodies monitoring SC/ST
protection and policy implementation.
● Judiciary: Interprets constitutional validity, disputes, and
sub-categorisation issues.
● Educational & Employment Institutions: Enforce reservation
in admissions and recruitment.
● Civil Society & Activist Movements: Highlight discrimination,
atrocities, and policy failures.
● Marginalized Communities: Directly affected by the
implementation, misuse, or inefficiency of reservations.
10. KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
● Scheduled Castes (SC): Communities historically subjected
to untouchability and extreme social exclusion.
● Scheduled Tribes (ST): Indigenous communities with distinct
cultures and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
● Reservation: Constitutionally mandated affirmative action for
under-represented communities in education, jobs, and
legislatures.
● Caste Census: A demographic exercise to record caste-wise
population data.
● Sub-Categorisation: Policy proposal to divide SC/ST
categories internally to ensure equitable distribution of
benefits.
● Atrocities: Crimes committed against SC/ST individuals due
to caste identity.
● Vote-Bank Politics: Use of caste-based promises to secure
electoral support.
● Affirmative Action: Measures that seek to reduce structural
disadvantages faced by marginalized groups.