• Telangana government issued an order on the implementation of Scheduled Castes (SC) sub-categorisation, making it the first state in the country to do so.

• In August 2024, the Supreme Court had ruled that states are empowered to make sub-classifications of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for granting quotas inside the reserved category to uplift the more underprivileged castes.

• The issuance of the government order coincides with the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, on April 14.

• Telangana government had earlier appointed a commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther on SC sub-categorisation, which made recommendations that the 59 Scheduled Caste (SC) communities be divided into three groups — I, II, and III for the total reservations of 15 per cent in government jobs and education.

• Group-I comprising 15 socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged SC communities, is given one per cent reservation.

• Group-II, including 18 moderately benefited SC communities, is provided with a nine per cent quota.

• Group III, comprising 26 significantly benefited SC communities, are given a five per cent reservation.

• All job vacancies in the state government now will be filled according to the sub-categorisation for SCs.

• By introducing sub-categorisation, the government hopes to uplift the most backward communities that have remained under-represented despite existing affirmative action policies.

• By ensuring that the most disadvantaged SC sub-groups receive targeted support, the policy could help bridge historical gaps in development and representation. 

• However, its success will depend on effective implementation.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)