Maharashtra Approves 5% Sports Quota Policy With Digital Verification

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a revised policy to bring uniformity and clarity to the 5% parallel reservation in government jobs for meritorious sportspersons. This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.

The new policy will apply to direct recruitment to Group A, B, C and D posts in state government departments and their subordinate offices. It will also cover government-aided educational institutions, ashram schools, cooperative institutions, and recognised voluntary organisations receiving government grants or financial assistance.

The revised policy aims to encourage sportspersons who have represented the country and state at national and international levels. It provides them with greater social and economic security. A major feature of the revised policy is the introduction of the Krida E-Praman automated digital system for sports certificate verification.

The Krida E-Praman system is intended to prevent the use of bogus certificates. Organisers will be required to upload digitally signed results within seven days of completion of a competition. The system will use blockchain technology to permanently preserve data and prevent tampering. Automated cryptographic hashing will enable immediate verification of the authenticity of records.

The government has cancelled all previous government resolutions relating to the 5% sports quota. A consolidated revised Government Resolution will be issued shortly. Sportspersons who were eligible for reservation under the earlier policy will also have to get their certificates validated within three months from the date of issuance of the new GR.

The revised policy specifies eligibility criteria for different categories of posts. For Group A posts, medal-winning sportspersons from recognised international competitions will be eligible. This includes Olympic Games, Asian Games, senior World Championships/Cups, and Commonwealth Games. Grandmasters in chess, Grand Slam tennis players, and medal winners at Paralympic and Para Asian Games will also qualify.

For Group B gazetted posts, eligibility will include medal winners at youth/junior World, Asian and Commonwealth championships. For Group B non-gazetted posts, medal winners at National Games, national championships and National Federation Cup competitions will be eligible.

The introduction of digital verification of certificates is a significant step towards preventing fraud and ensuring that only genuine sportspersons benefit from the reservation policy. The revised policy is expected to provide a boost to sportspersons in Maharashtra and encourage them to pursue their passion for sports.

The Maharashtra government's decision to approve the revised policy is a positive step towards promoting sports in the state. It is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of meritorious sportspersons and provide them with greater opportunities for employment and social security.

In conclusion, the revised 5% sports quota policy with digital verification of certificates is a welcome move by the Maharashtra government. It aims to provide greater social and economic security to meritorious sportspersons and promote sports in the state. The policy is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of sportspersons in Maharashtra and encourage them to pursue their passion for sports.