[jagdish123]

> at the expense of higher-caste Indians, or at the expense of all other demographics, or at the expense of white people?

I am assuming you mean: demonstrably meritorious members of socially priviledged groups. Well, what gets lost in the discussion of merit is how an individual achieves it and how social factors that are outside their hand influence them in reaching or never-reaching their true potential. Reservations, in my opinion, should be seen as lending a hand to individuals who find themselves subject to antagonistic social structures that are a product of divisive and elitist thinking spanning hundreds of years. It is not a tussle, so as to say, between one group versus another, but a collaboration between the two halves of society (one which enjoyed a higher position in the social hierarchy for centuries and the other which was exploited) to realize the best in all of us. This might understandably entail priviledged members of society letting go of some of their priviledges they enjoy due to their birth in a certain family.

[somebody78978]

But you still end up with the problem where your caste determines your privilege; the only difference is which caste benefits. Wouldn't it be better to work toward a system where the caste has no impact on your opportunities?