Telangana Is First State To Enforce SC Categorisation In Jobs And Education Under New Policy

The Telangana became the first state in India to formally implement Scheduled Caste (SC) categorization through a government order on Monday, marking the anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar's birth. A state-appointed commission led by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther made the recommendations that led to the order, which was published in the Telangana Gazette on April 14, 2025.

Groups I, II, and III are the three groups into which the state's 59 SC communities are divided according to their socioeconomic and educational standing. The existing 15% SC reservation quota will be divided among the newly established categories under the reorganized reservation system, which will also apply to government jobs and education.

According to the categorisation:

Group I, consisting of 15 of the most disadvantaged communities, will receive 1 per cent reservation.

Group II, with 18 moderately benefited communities, has been allocated a 9 per cent quota.

Group III, comprising 26 relatively better-off communities, will get 5 per cent reservation.

The government order has been formally issued and presented to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, announced Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who led the cabinet subcommittee on SC categorization. He declared, "As of right now, Telangana's SC classification is formally in place in both the employment and educational sectors."

Additionally, Minister Reddy criticized previous administrations for merely passing resolutions on SC categorization without carrying them out. He said, "Telangana has now taken a decisive step that sets a precedent for the entire country."

He underlined that the subcommittee's recommendations were the outcome of in-depth discussions with a broad range of stakeholders and affirmed that the new categorization framework would serve as the basis for all upcoming government job recruitments.

The minister also mentioned that, should the SC population grow, changes to the reservation percentages could be made in light of the findings of the 2026 national census. He claimed that the policy demonstrates a flexible strategy that adjusts to shifting demographics.

The action represents a major change in policy intended to guarantee a more fair allocation of benefits among the various communities that fall under Telangana's SC category.