ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the perceptions and experiences of Dalit students regarding the Quota System and its role in increasing Dalit access to and participation in higher education. It examines the effects of the Quota policy and the challenges it poses for Dalit university students. It also explore a more specific focus on the relationships between Dalit and non-Dalit individuals in the social and educational environment of a premier university. The chapter examines the difficulties that arise due to attitudes exhibited towards Dalit students in the daily encounters with non-Dalit students. The Quota policy shows some characteristics of the distributive dimension of social justice. Meritocratic selection examines the attitudes of both Dalit and non-Dalit respondents towards the merit-based criteria for admission to professional courses. Dalit students interaction with their non-Dalit peers in everyday student life potentially forms a major part of their educational development. India's Constitution renders discrimination against the Dalit community an offence punishable in a court of law.
