Odisha Hikes SC/ST Quotas, Introduces SEBC Reservation in Professional Education

In a landmark decision aimed at fostering social justice and equitable access to higher education, the Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, approved a significant overhaul of its reservation policy for admissions to medical, engineering, and other professional and technical courses. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Bhubaneswar. Under the newly approved policy, the reservation quota for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in these professional courses has been substantially increased from the previous 12 percent to 22.50 percent. Similarly, the quota for Scheduled Caste (SC) students has been enhanced from 8 percent to 16.25 percent. A crucial new addition to the reservation framework is the introduction of an 11.25 percent quota for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) students, who are recognized as OBCs in Odisha, marking their first dedicated reservation in these high-demand professional streams. Chief Minister Majhi emphasized that this revised reservation structure aims to correct long-standing disparities and align the quotas more closely with the actual population proportions of these communities within the state. He pointed out that despite STs constituting over 22 percent of Odisha's population, their reservation in technical, professional, medical, and allied courses had remained at a disproportionate 12 percent for decades. Likewise, SCs, who comprise more than 17 percent of the state's population, had only an 8 percent reservation. Prior to this decision, SEBC students had no dedicated reservation in these specific professional and technical fields. The comprehensive policy will be implemented across all state universities, their affiliated colleges, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), and polytechnics. The wide array of courses covered includes engineering, technology, management, computer applications, medicine (MBBS, BDS, etc.), surgery, dental sciences, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, veterinary science, Ayurveda, homeopathy, agriculture and allied sciences, architecture, planning, and cinematic arts and technology. It extends to both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as diploma and certificate programs as notified by the state government from time to time. The impact of these changes on seat allocation is significant. For instance, out of the state's total 2,421 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats, the number of seats reserved for ST students will increase from approximately 290 to 545. SC students will see their reserved seats rise from about 193 to 393. Furthermore, 272 seats will now be newly allocated to SEBC students in medical courses. Similar proportional gains are anticipated in engineering admissions. Out of 44,579 engineering seats in the state, ST seats will increase from 5,349 to 10,030, SC seats from 3,566 to 7,244, and for the first time, 5,015 seats will be reserved for SEBC students. The move has been widely reported by multiple credible Indian news outlets, including The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, and United News of India, all corroborating the details of the cabinet's approval and the specific percentage changes. This consensus among reputable sources confirms the accuracy of the original article's claims and indicates no misinformation or exaggeration. The decision is seen as a crucial step towards building a more inclusive and prosperous Odisha by ensuring greater access to quality professional education for disadvantaged sections of society. In addition to the reservation reforms, some reports also mentioned other key approvals by the cabinet, such as the introduction of the 'Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana' for the financial year 2026-27, which will provide beneficiaries with an additional 5 kg of fortified rice free of cost every month under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). However, the primary focus of the initial news and related articles remains the educational reservation policy. The long-pending demand for such reservations in technical and professional fields reflects the aspirations of these communities for enhanced educational and career opportunities. The government's decision to implement these changes from the upcoming academic session is poised to have a significant and positive impact on thousands of students across Odisha.

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