Hiring based on the religion of the applicant

Numbers sourced from the ministry of minority affairs {should be renamed ministry of muslim and christian affairs} show that 2009 registered a huge six-fold increase in the number of people from minority communities recruited to jobs in public sector banks and other public sector financial institutions compared to 2007. The story, however, does not end there. The recruitment of minorities into railway jobs doubled from 2007 to 2009 and a strong surge was also visible in their appointments in the paramilitary forces and various public sector undertakings (PSUs).

The change, however, has not come about on its own. It is the result of a concerted policy effort by Manmohan Singh's government which first brought out the 'Prime Minister's New 15-Point Programme for Welfare of Minorities' in June 2006. Among other things - like better access for minorities to education and giving technical training to improve their skills - the programme clearly said that "special consideration" would be given to members of minority communities for filling up posts in "police, railways, nationalized banks and PSUs".

There is no religion-based quota for jobs in India. However, in this case, the PM's words were followed by action and on January 8, 2007, the Department of Personnel & Training circulated revised guidelines to all central ministries and departments asking them to give special consideration to the recruitment of minorities in central government offices and central PSUs.

Re the bolded part above, one need not be Einstein to understand simple things - jobs are given based on an applicant's religion, not merit, but it is still not a religion based quota, huh. It is a religion based quota, through the backdoor, since if made into a law, it'll be opposed tooth and nail. What is next best thing to do? Pressurize and drop hints to hire people based on their religion without going through a legal process and discriminate against people belonging to other religions.