Odisha Government Boosts Educational Quotas for Marginalized Communities

Significant Changes in Reservation Policies

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha state administration has announced an increase in reservation quotas for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, along with the introduction of a new reservation for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in medical and technical education sectors.

This decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday.

According to Majhi, the reservation for ST students has been elevated from 12% to 22.5%, while SC students will see an increase from 8% to 16.25%. Additionally, an 11.25% reservation has been established for OBC students, referred to as SEBC in Odisha.

The new reservation framework will be applicable across various educational institutions, including universities, affiliated colleges, ITIs, and polytechnics, covering fields such as engineering, technology, management, medicine, and more.

This system will also extend to the awarding of certificates, diplomas, and degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in courses designated by the state government.

Majhi emphasized that despite the ST population exceeding 22%, the previous reservation in technical and medical courses was limited to 12%. Thus, the adjustment aligns with their demographic representation.

Currently, out of 2,421 medical seats available, only 290 were accessible to ST students under the old quota. With the new increase, this number will rise to 545.

For SC students, who represent over 17% of the population, the reserved seats will increase from 193 to 393.

In engineering, the seats for STs will grow from 5,349 to 10,030, while SCs will see an increase from 3,566 to 7,244. For the first time, 515 seats will be allocated for SEBC students.

Majhi stated, "This initiative will significantly contribute to the development of a prosperous Odisha."

In another notable announcement, the Chief Minister revealed the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana' for the fiscal year 2026-27, which will provide an additional 5 kg of rice monthly to beneficiaries at no cost.

This rice distribution will occur under the 'National Food Security Act' (NFSA) and 'State Food Security Scheme' (SFSS), benefiting millions of families across the state.

Currently, 32,289,692 individuals from 9,797,572 families benefit from the NFSA, while 562,737 individuals from 298,725 families are part of the SFSS. All these beneficiaries will now receive support from the new scheme.

The cabinet also approved 14 additional proposals from various departments.