In a landmark decision, Telangana has become the first state in India to implement Scheduled Castes (SC) sub-categorisation, a move aimed at addressing the disparities within the SC communities. The state government issued a formal order on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s reservation policy. This step comes after a comprehensive recommendation from a commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther, which divides the 59 SC communities into three groups based on their social, economic, and educational disadvantage.
The implementation of SC sub-categorisation follows the approval of the Telangana legislature, which passed the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Bill in February 2025. The legislation divides the SC communities into three distinct groups for a total of 15% reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. Group-I, comprising 15 communities, will receive one percent reservation; Group-II, with 18 communities, will be allotted nine percent, while Group-III, consisting of 26 communities, will benefit from a five percent reservation.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed pride in the state’s historic achievement, highlighting that the implementation of this policy was a tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. He noted that the decision marks the state as a pioneer in fulfilling a long-overdue demand for social justice. Reddy emphasized that this initiative would empower all sections of the Dalit community by providing equitable opportunities in education and employment.
The Telangana government’s move comes after years of deliberation and recommendations. Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who led a sub-committee on SC sub-categorisation, stated that this development marks a substantial leap forward. He clarified that this new policy would apply to all future government job vacancies, ensuring that the benefits of sub-categorisation would be implemented comprehensively across sectors.
The government also assured that if the SC population increases according to the 2026 census, the reservation percentages would be revised accordingly. With this decision, Telangana sets a precedent for other states to consider similar sub-categorisation frameworks, potentially reshaping the reservation system in India for the better.
