The scale for measuring effectiveness of affirmative policy: a need for sustainable development in India

India’s social fragmentation, largely influenced by the caste system, presents significant challenges for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), who constitute 25.2% of the population according to the 2011 census. The caste system, historically rigid and hierarchical, assigns SCs to the lowest social tiers, subjecting them to severe discrimination and limited access to socio-economic opportunities. STs, with their unique lifestyles and remote habitats, face similar marginalization. Affirmative action policies in India, originating during British colonial rule and solidified post-independence, aim to rectify these historical injustices by ensuring SCs and STs receive equitable representation in education, employment, and politics. These policies, while promoting equity, often generate controversy for potentially compromising merit and efficiency, and sometimes causing dissatisfaction among beneficiaries due to unequal opportunity distribution. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of affirmative action policies through a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative literature reviews and quantitative data analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Key constructs such as awareness, accessibility, assimilation, and economic status are examined to assess policy impact. The study seeks to provide a comprehensive framework to measure how well these policies reduce disparities and improve socio-economic conditions for marginalized communities in India.