Name: Gagandeep
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume-11, Issue-1, January-June 2026
Page Number: 193-201
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19399409

ABSTRACT:
Reservation as an affirmative action, from its implementation has resulted in changing the socialeconomic status of weaker sections, especially Scheduled Castes in a well manner. The political participation of these sections has increased as an outcome of seats reserved for them. In this paper, efforts has been made to analyse the present scenario of political reservation provided to the Scheduled Castes in Panchayats, specially concerned with the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. On the basis of findings of present study, it can be said that reservation has been proved a boon for the
scheduled castes. As a result of reservation provided to them, they do participate in Panchayats. It is also observed that they are able to become a member of Panchayats mainly because of seats reserved for them in these institutions. Initiatives by the Government, NGO’s are necessary to make proper participation of these castes in local level politics.

Keywords: Scheduled Castes, Reservation, Panchayats, Dalits etc.