In India, the use of reservations or affirmative action is highly divisive. Many people oppose it because they believe it compromises the concept of "merit" and runs counter to the idea of equality of opportunity, despite the fact that it is constitutionally required and supported by historians, political scientists, and social activists. Abhinav traces the development of the reservation policy in These Seats Are Reserved. How were reservations-eligible groups identified and described? How did the phrases "depressed classes" and "backward classes" function in British India, and how did they change through time to become the constitutional notions of "Scheduled Castes," "Scheduled Tribes," and "Other Backward Classes"? The book delves into the intellectual debates that took place on this matter in the Constituent Assembly, the Supreme Court and Parliament. Several contentious issues are examined dispassionately: are reservations an exception to the principle of equality of opportunity? Do quotas in government service undermine efficiency? Can 'merit' really be defined neutrally? What is the thinking behind the rule that no more than 50 per cent of the available seats or positions can be reserved? Deeply researched and ably narrated, this volume is a compelling addition to every thinking individual's library.