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A protest demanding changes to India’s reservation system drew around 300 people to Connaught Place in Delhi on Sunday. Police detained more than 20 participants after the gathering took place without permission, officials said.

The demonstrators assembled around the outer circle of Connaught Place with placards and slogans. Their demands centred on changing the existing quota framework and giving greater importance to a person’s economic condition when deciding access to reservation and government assistance.

The protesters said financial hardship affects people across communities and argued that support should be directed towards those facing economic difficulties, irrespective of their caste.

“We are not against reservation. We want reforms in reservation. The government should understand that poor people from all communities also face difficulties and their concerns should be heard," a protester said.

Participants also called for the introduction of a creamy-layer provision and changes to policies concerning Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Some protesters sought a review of the University Grants Commission framework and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They said wider changes were needed in policies affecting education and employment opportunities.

Another participant said the reservation framework should be reassessed so that its benefits reach people who need them most.

Police said the demonstration had not been authorised. Officers moved in to clear the area and detained more than 20 people. Security personnel continued to remain deployed in Connaught Place after the gathering was dispersed.

Protest Follows Online Campaign

The demonstration was linked to the “Reservation Hatao Andolan" campaign, which has built a large following on Instagram. The page, followed by around 5.6 million people, had encouraged supporters to take the campaign from social media to the streets.

The online mobilisation had already resulted in a gathering at Jantar Mantar two days earlier. Several people were detained after turning up at the site without the required permission.

At the same time, a separate protest under the same banner had received police approval at Ramlila Ground. The authorised event was permitted to have up to 500 participants and could continue until 4 pm.

The latest gathering is likely to add to the ongoing debate over the reservation system, with protesters calling for reforms rather than its complete removal.

The 'creamy layer' provision aims to ensure that reservation benefits reach genuinely disadvantaged sections by excluding affluent individuals from backward classes. This provision is currently applied to Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations, but not to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations.

The 'Reservation Hatao Andolan' protesters claim the Centre has agreed to discuss their demands regarding caste-based reservation, with a Union Minister personally meeting them. The group has stated that the agitation is continuing.