New Delhi, Mar 1 (IANS): The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, bringing persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining the Line of Control.

"The ordinance provides for amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, to bring persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control," Union Minister Arun Jaitley said in a media briefing about the cabinet decisions.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal of Jammu & Kashmir government regarding amendment to the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) order, 1954 by way of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019.

It will serve the purpose of application of relevant provisions of the Constitution, as amended through the Constitution (77th Amendment) Act, 1995 and Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 for Jammu and Kashmir, by issuing the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendment Order, 2019 by the President under clause (1) of Article 370.

Once notified, this will pave the way for giving benefit of promotion in service to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and also extend the reservation of up to 10 per cent for "economically weaker sections" in educational institutions and public employment in addition to the existing reservation in Jammu and Kashmir, said Jaitley.