In a historic move coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Telangana government has become the first state in India to officially implement the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes, following the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict upholding the constitutionality of such classifications, reported the Maktoob Media.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy received the first copy of the gazette notification for the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act 2025 from the Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Health Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha.
“We are all proud to have made history,” said Revanth Reddy in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “On the auspicious day of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, we have taken a significant step towards social justice by implementing a long-pending demand for SC classification.”
The new law, passed by the Telangana Assembly on March 27 and approved by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on April 8, came into effect on April 14. It categorises SCs into three groups based on empirical data, their social and economic status, and the degree of educational and political backwardness.
Under the Act, 15 sub-castes considered the most backward are grouped in Group I, receiving 1% reservation. Although they make up only 0.5% of the SC population, the government has allotted them a higher share to promote equity. Group II includes 18 sub-castes like Madigas—who form nearly 62% of the SC population—with 9% reservation, while Group III includes 26 relatively advanced sub-castes like Malas, with 5% reservation.
Of the total 15% reservation for SCs in education and public employment, the division is now:
1% for Group I (most backward)
9% for Group II (moderately backward)
5% for Group III (relatively advanced)
This long-awaited move brings closure to a 30-year-long movement led by Manda Krishna Madiga, president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), who had persistently demanded justice for the most marginalised Dalit communities.
Minister Uttam Reddy stated that henceforth, all appointments and educational admissions would be made based on this classification. A meeting of all departments has been scheduled to begin implementation procedures immediately.
Health Minister Rajanarsimha, who hails from the Madiga community, said, “This classification is not against any caste. It is for eliminating inequalities and uplifting those who have been left behind for decades. This is a true tribute to Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy.”
In March, the Assembly had also passed two major bills providing 42% reservations for Backward Classes in education, government jobs, and local body elections—further reinforcing Telangana’s commitment to affirmative action.
