The big verdict is finally out. The Supreme Court of India on Monday said that the 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections introduced by the Narendra Modi government in 2019 is valid. The apex court said in no uncertain terms that the law doesn't violate the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.

"The five-judge Constitution bench by a majority of 3:2 upholds the validity of Constitution’s 103rd Amendment Act which provides 10% EWS reservation in educational institutions and government jobs," reported ANI.

The BJP has welcomed the verdict. "The Supreme Court upholds the legality of EWS reservation for unreserved sections. Another big credit for PM Sri Modi‘s vision of Gareeb Kalyan. A big boost in the direction of social justice," wrote BJP's National General Secretary BL Santhosh.

Welcoming the verdict is author Harsh Gupta Madhusudan, who wrote, "That concept of economic deprivation in and of itself being a factor for affirmative action also is now accepted is absolutely revolutionary. Now it is up to our society to gradually make that more acceptable than identity markers by promoting social mobility."