if affirmative action is needed then why should the dominant castes among the 'backwards" not be excluded as they have economic and political power after independence? also there should be a cut-off point of 2-3% less for quota students and if this is not filled then the seats should go to non-quota students. to help the quota students make the grade there should be special coaching classes or maybe some of our well-known coaching instututes could get grants from the government for quota students. and lastly the children of i.a.s. officers and elected politicians should be debarred as well as those of judges and armed forces and police officers.