St Stephen’s increases Christian quota

Form this year, 50 percent is the cap on reservation for Christians in Delhi University’s prestigious St Stephen’s College.The college is a minority institution, which under the law is allowed to administer its own affairs. Though a final decision on reservations will be announced next week.Of all seats open for adminission, 40 percent will be open to the general category, 10 percent will be reserved for non-Christian Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and physically handicapped, while students from the sports category will get a 5 percent quota over and above the sanctioned seats.The four groups have been categorized as Category A for Christians, B for general merit, C for SC/ST and physically handicapped and D for the sports category.The college will create new seats for students coming through the sports quota. But the admission procedure remains unchanged - 75 percent weightage to Class 12 marks, 15 percent to Class 10 marks and 10 percent to the interview.Till 2006, Christians enjoyed a 30 percent quota, while general category students were eligible for half the number of seats. The remaining 20 percent was reserved for SC/ST students.Article 30 of the Constitution allows minority educational institutions the freedom to administer themselves, even if they receive funding from the government.Minority education institutions are not bound to reserve seats for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) or Other Backward Classes.St Stephen’s College is a minority institution affiliated to Delhi University that receives funding from the University Grants Commission, which decides on financing of India’s government universities