Telangana implements Scheduled Caste Categorisation of Reservations

Telangana has become the first state in India to implement the categorisation of reservation in Scheduled Castes in the state. The state government providing quota  within quota was issued. The government order was issued by the state government on 14th April 2025, on the birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar who was also the tallest Scheduled Caste leader in independent India was the chairman of the Drafting committee set up by the Constituent Assembly of India to frame the constitution of India. He is also considered the architect  of the Indian constitution. 

Dr Ambedkar was born on 14th April 1891, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.

Background to the State Government Decision 

On 1 August 2024, in the Davinder Singh Vs the State of Punjab case the Supreme Court by 6:1 majority ruled that the state government was empowered to create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Caste  and the Scheduled Tribes for reservation purposes as per Article 15 and 16 of the constitution. 

The seven-judge bench was headed by the then Chief Justice of India  D Y Chandrachud.

The main crux of the Supreme Court judgement was that the benefit of reservation shall not be cornered by the relatively affluent caste within the Schedule Caste category. The benefit of reservation shall reach the marginalised community within the Scheduled Castes.

Justice Shameem Akhtar Committee on SC categorisation

Following the judgement of the Supreme Court in the Davinder Singh case, the Telangana government set up a one man committee on sub categorisation within the Scheduled Caste community in the state.

The Committee was headed by the former Judge of the Telangana High Court, Justice Shameem Akther. 

On the report of Justice Shameem Akther, the state government introduced the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Bill, 2025 in the state legislative assembly. 

The bill received the assent of the Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and became a law. The law was subsequently notified by the state government on 14 April 2025. 

Categorisation of Scheduled Caste Reservation 

There is a 15% reservation for the Scheduled Caste in the state jobs and the educational institutions.

For the purpose of reservation the Scheduled Caste in the state has been categorised into three categories -I,II,and III.

• Group I: 15 most disadvantaged communities – 1% reservation
• Group II: 18 moderately benefited communities – 9% reservation
• Group III: 26 relatively better-off communities – 5% reservations.

According to the state government, all future government job recruitments and education admissions will follow this new sub-categorisation model. 

If the population of the SC categories changes as per the 2026 census then the reservation for them will be changed accordingly.

For details about the SC Judgement in the Devinder Singh Case