Telangana becomes first state to implement SC categorisation
The Telangana government had appointed a panel, which recommended that the 59 SC communities be divided into three groups for the total reservations of 15 pc
On Ambedkar Jayanti, Telangana became the first state to officially implement the categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
On Monday (April 14), the state issued a government order (GO) to that effect, Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy told the media.
There are a total of 59 castes listed under the SC category and the government has divided these castes into three groups based on their social backwardness.
Three groups and their reservation structure
Group A: 1 per cent reservation
Group B: 9 per cent reservation
Group C: 5 per cent reservation
Group-wise shares
Group A, which includes 15 castes that are socially, economically, and educationally the most backward will get 1 per cent reservation.
Group B, which includes Madiga and its 18 sub-castes, the moderately benefitted SC communities, will receive 9 per cent reservation.
Group C, which includes Mala and its 26 sub-castes, significantly benefitted SC communities, will receive 5 per cent reservation.
Population Distribution by Group
Group A: 1,71,625
Group B: 32,74,377
Group C: 17,71,682
State follows panel recommendation
The Telangana government had earlier appointed a commission headed by retired high court judge, Justice Shameem Akther, which made recommendations that the 59 SC communities be divided into three groups — I, II, and III — for the total reservations of 15 per cent in government jobs and education.
“The following Act of the Telangana Legislature received the assent of the Governor of Telangana on April 8, 2025, and the said assent is hereby first published on the 14th April 2025 in the Telangana Gazette for general information,” the GO said. The official gazette was released in Telugu, English, and Urdu languages.
The issuance of the GO significantly coincides with the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, architect of Indian Constitution.
Also read: Muslims under OBC: Ideological fight around Telangana caste survey
Addressing a press conference, irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who headed a sub-committee on SC categorisation, said the first copy of the GO was given to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat on Monday morning.
“From today, from this moment, SC categorisation will be implemented in Telangana in employment and education. We have issued a GO to that extent and gave the first copy to the CM,” he told reporters.
Describing the SC categorisation implementation as "historic", Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “Many parties spoke in favour of SC categorisation, but none took it seriously. That’s why there was a delay. However, after the Congress government was formed, sincere efforts began. The Bill was passed in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment, and the governor signed it, making it into law. We're implementing SC categorisation from April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, as a mark of social justice. That’s why the GO was issued today.”
Future adjustments based on population
Based on the 2026 census, SC reservations would increase proportionally with population growth, he added. If the SC population goes up in the 2026 census, the reservations will also go up accordingly.
“Today’s GO is proof of the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. Telangana is the first state to implement SC categorisation after the Supreme Court’s ruling,” he emphasised.
Legislative Timeline
The SC Categorization Bill was introduced by minister Damodar Rajanarasimha in the legislative Assembly on March 17.
It was approved by the Assembly on March 18.
The legislative council passed it on March 19.
All state jobs to follow sub-categorisation
Further, the state irrigation minister alleged that earlier governments in Telangana confined themselves to pass resolutions for the categorisation and never took it forward.
All job vacancies in the state government now will be filled according to the sub-categorisation for SCs.
The minister also said the cabinet sub-committee conducted an extensive exercise to collect the opinion of all the stakeholders.
Judicial and study background
On August 1, 2024, a seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that sub-categorisation of SCs and Scheduled Tribes is valid.
Following this, in October 2014, based on the Supreme Court’s direction, the Telangana government appointed a one-member commission led by Justice Shamim Akhtar, a retired Telangana High Court judge, to conduct a detailed study on SC sub-categorization.
Justice Akhtar submitted his report on February 3, 2025 to the cabinet sub-committee headed by minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Telangana Legislature in February accepted the recommendations of Justice Akther on SC categorisation, rejecting an advice that creamy layer should be exempted from reservations.
The assembly passed the SC Categorization Bill on March 18, 2025.
