According to the Central Government, SC/ST reservation cannot be determined solely on what basis?

The Central Government stated in the Supreme Court that SC/ST reservation is not based solely on economic grounds, as it encompasses factors such as historical discrimination, social backwardness, and inadequate representation; The *Indra Sawhney* case (1992) forms the primary basis for the 'creamy layer' concept. In *State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh* (2024), the Supreme Court, by a 6:1 majority, permitted the evidence-based sub-classification of SC/ST categories, aiming to extend the benefits of reservation to the most deprived groups among them.