Odisha Approves 11.25% Education Quota for SEBC Students
In a major step towards inclusive education, the Odisha government has approved a new reservation policy granting 11.25% quota in educational institutions for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs). The move, announced by the state Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marks the first time SEBCs will receive educational reservations in the state.
The decision is expected to benefit 231 SEBC communities across Odisha and aligns with both constitutional mandates and national education goals. Until now, despite comprising an estimated 54% of the state’s population, SEBCs in Odisha had no reservation in education, although they have long held 11.25% reservation in public employment.
Quota to Promote Inclusive Higher Education
The reservation will be implemented across all public universities, government colleges, and aided institutions, including those offering higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses. With this inclusion, the revised reservation breakdown in Odisha’s educational institutions will now be:
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 22.5%
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 16.25%
- SEBCs: 11.25%
- Persons with Disabilities: 5%
- Ex-servicemen: 1%
Chief Minister Majhi called the move a “landmark step” in providing constitutional rights and educational access to backward classes. He emphasized that this aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for equitable access to higher education and supports the broader national vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Political and Policy Context
The decision comes after repeated requests by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who had earlier urged the state government in 2019 and 2020 to implement such a reservation. Majhi also criticized the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, stating it had ignored earlier proposals to provide educational quotas for SEBCs.
According to the state government, the implementation of this new reservation policy is set to take immediate effect, ensuring that SEBC students benefit from the upcoming academic cycles.
This development is seen as a progressive policy shift aimed at enhancing social justice and ensuring equal educational opportunities for historically underrepresented communities. It reflects a growing national trend of expanding access in education through targeted inclusion measures.
