Why in the News?

Telangana government issued a gazette notification that formally implemented Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation, popularly called reservation within reservation.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• SC Sub-Categorisation (Telangana’s Decision, Structure of Sub-Categorisation, Court’s Judgement, Political & Social Context, etc.)

Telangana’s Landmark Move on SC Sub-Categorisation

• Telangana has become the first Indian state to officially implement sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), a long-debated policy initiative.
• The move follows the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of further classification within SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for targeted reservation benefits.
• The implementation comes through the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025, which was notified in the state gazette on April 14, 2025, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Structure of Sub-Categorisation

• Under this new system, the state government has divided the SCs into three distinct groups:
• Group I:
  • Reservation Quota: 1%
  • Sub-Castes Included: 15
  • Justification: These communities are the most socio-economically and educationally backward among SCs.
  • Notable Detail: Although their population is just 0.5%, the government allocated 1% to increase their representation.
• Group II:
  • Reservation Quota: 9%
  • Sub-Castes Included: 18
  • Justification: These sub-castes have received only marginal benefits from the existing reservation structure.
• Group III:
  • Reservation Quota: 5%
  • Sub-Castes Included: 26
  • Justification: These groups have fared relatively better and enjoyed more benefits under the current system.
• The total reservation of 15% for SCs remains unchanged, but the internal distribution now aims to ensure equitable access to opportunities among all sub-groups.

Supreme Court's Landmark Ruling

• The legal foundation for this policy rests on a seven-judge Constitution Bench judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in August 2024.
• The verdict affirmed that states have the power to sub-classify SCs and STs for the purpose of more nuanced reservation.
• Key highlights of the judgment include:
  • Recognition that benefits of reservation were being disproportionately cornered by certain sub-castes within SCs.
  • Validation of the principle of "reservation within reservation" to uplift the most marginalised sub-groups.
  • Clear ruling that such sub-categorisation does not violate Article 14 (Right to Equality) or Article 341 of the Constitution.
• This judgment overturned previous conflicting views and gave states the green signal to make caste-wise assessments within broader SC/ST categories.

Political and Social Context in Telangana

• The sub-categorisation was a long-standing demand of the Madiga community, which argued that dominant SC sub-castes like the Malas had monopolised reservation benefits.
• According to the Telangana Government, this policy aims to “ensure equitable access to education and employment” and will be immediately applicable to new recruitment processes.
• The categorisation process was based on extensive data, including social, economic, political, and educational indicators.
• Recruitment and reservation for government jobs will now follow this new classification system.

Looking Ahead: 2026 Census and Further Reform

• The Telangana government has stated that it will revisit and possibly enhance reservations after the 2026 Census, depending on the revised demographic profile of SC communities.
• Meanwhile, about 33 of the 59 SC sub-castes continue in their earlier grouping, with only 26 sub-castes reshuffled based on recent assessments.