Telangana has officially become the first Indian state to categorise Scheduled Castes (SCs) differently. The decision was announced on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. The change aims to improve social justice in the state.
The government made this decision based on recommendations from a special commission led by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther.
The commission's report organised Telangana's 59 recognised Scheduled Caste communities into three groups: I, II, and III. This will help ensure the fair distribution of the existing 15% reservation in government jobs and education.
The government of Telangana has introduced a new reservation system for Scheduled Castes (SC).
- Group I includes 15 SC communities that are the most disadvantaged socially, economically, and educationally. They will receive a 1% reservation.
- Group II comprises 18 communities with moderate benefits, such as the influential Madiga sub-caste, which will receive a 9% quota.
- Group III includes 26 historically benefited communities. They will have a 5% reservation.
At a press conference, Telangana’s Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the start of Scheduled Caste (SC) categorisation in the state. He emphasised that this decision comes from the Cabinet subcommittee on SC categorisation and fulfils a promise that previous governments failed to deliver. He presented the first official copy of the government order to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that today is important for Telangana and the country. He noted that the government consulted many stakeholders and made decisions openly.
After much discussion and procedural challenges, the Telangana legislature accepted the commission's recommendations earlier this year. Last month, the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Bill 2025 was passed decisively, supported by a Supreme Court ruling 2024 that backed this categorisation.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy called this decision a tribute to the hard work of many activists, especially those from the Madiga Reservation Poratta Samithi (MRPS). He described it as a "historic achievement." The Chief Minister highlighted that Congress has a long history of supporting Dalit welfare, mentioning past leaders like former Chief Minister Damodaram Sanjeevaiah and current Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge.
The Chief Minister announced that the government will implement SC categorisation and support family categorisation, which has been a long struggle. Families of those who died fighting for SC categorisation will receive priority in welfare programs like Indiramma Housing and Rajiv Yuva Vikasam.
Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that the future reservation system will be flexible. If the SC population increases in the 2026 census, the reservation quotas will increase accordingly.
Telangana's action sets a new standard nationwide and adds to the discussion about social justice and reservation reforms. A political analyst noted, "Telangana’s strong decision may encourage similar actions throughout India." This change aims to address historical disparities and could reshape national reservation policies.
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