Which State Government in India approved a one per cent reservation for orphans in government jobs under the general category, treating them as a separate vulnerable group?

Introduction / Context:
In recent years, some Indian States have introduced special reservation policies for particularly vulnerable groups who do not fall neatly into the usual caste-based categories. One such policy was a one per cent reservation for orphans in government jobs under the general category. This question checks whether you can identify the State that took this pioneering step, reflecting an evolving approach to social justice and affirmative action in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question mentions a one per cent reservation for orphans in government jobs.
• It specifies that this reservation is under the general category, not under traditional caste-based categories.
• The options given are Maharashtra, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
• We assume the context of a policy decision made through a Government Resolution or similar official order.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is State-level affirmative action beyond the usual Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes categories. Maharashtra became one of the first States to announce a one per cent reservation in education and government jobs for orphans, treating them as a separate category within the general category. This policy recognises that orphans often lack family support, social capital, and economic resources, which can be as debilitating as other forms of structural disadvantage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall media reports and government notifications about special reservations for orphans.Step 2: Remember that Maharashtra issued a Government Resolution creating a separate one per cent quota for orphans in government jobs and educational institutions.Step 3: Note that this reservation is counted within the general category, not as a separate vertical category like SC, ST, or OBC.Step 4: Compare the options Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra with this information.Step 5: Conclude that Maharashtra is the State known for introducing this specific one per cent reservation for orphans.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is to recall that Maharashtra has often been in news for progressive reservation policies, including separate quotas for various social groups and for orphans. News articles and general studies material on social justice and Indian polity frequently highlight Maharashtra's decision to treat orphans as a special category within the general reservation pool. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh also have various reservation policies, but they were not prominently associated with this particular one per cent orphan reservation scheme at the time this question was framed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Haryana: While Haryana has its own set of reservation policies, it is not typically mentioned as the State that pioneered a one per cent general-category reservation specifically for orphans.
• Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh has several welfare schemes, but the distinctive one per cent orphan reservation under the general category is associated with Maharashtra, not Madhya Pradesh.
• Uttar Pradesh: This State also runs many welfare programs, yet it is not the State most commonly linked in exam questions with the specific one per cent reservation for orphans in government jobs under the general category.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may guess based on the general impression that any large or populous State might have introduced such a policy. Others may confuse this particular scheme with separate welfare measures for children or with general reservation statistics. A good strategy is to associate Maharashtra with this innovative policy for orphans, as it has been repeatedly mentioned in competitive exam preparation materials. Always try to connect States with distinctive flagship schemes to remember such facts effectively.

Final Answer:
The State Government that approved a one per cent reservation for orphans in government jobs under the general category is Maharashtra.