On 7 November 2022, the Supreme Court of India upheld the reservations for the weaker sections (EWS). Which of the following amendments brought this reservation in the first place?

The correct answer is 103rd Amendment of the Constitution.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Background of EWS Reservation:
The Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation provides a 10% reservation in education and government jobs in India for individuals belonging to economically disadvantaged families among the unreserved general category.

2. Constitutional Amendment:
This reservation was introduced through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019. It amended Article 15 and Article 16 of the Constitution of India by inserting Clause (6) to both articles, enabling the state to make special provisions for the advancement of economically weaker sections.

3. Supreme Court Verdict:
On 7 November 2022, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment by a 3:2 majority, confirming that the EWS reservation does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.