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Telangana Cabinet to implement 42% quota for Backward Classes in local body elections

The Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly in March were titled the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments for posts in services under the state) Bill, 2025.

The Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly in March were titled the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments for posts in services under the state) Bill, 2025, and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in urban and rural local bodies) Bill, 2025. (@revanth_anumula/X)

Telangana government’s 19th Cabinet has decided to implement 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming local body elections.

This comes nearly four months after the Telangana Assembly passed two key legislations clearing the way for 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in government jobs, educational institutions and urban and rural local body polls.

Cabinet ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar said at a press briefing held in Hyderabad Thursday that an ordinance to this effect will be promulgated soon.

Before taking the decision, the advocate general of the state was also consulted by the Cabinet, Srinivas Reddy said. Local body elections in Telangana will have to be held within three months, according to the Telangana High Court’s directions.

The Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly in March were titled the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments for posts in services under the state) Bill, 2025, and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in urban and rural local bodies) Bill, 2025.

It was passed months after the state government’s caste survey found that the BCs — including Muslim caste groups — form 56.33 percent of the state’s population. The Bills were then sent to Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who has referred them to President Droupadi Murmu.

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Even if the state were to promulgate an ordinance, governor’s assent will be required. “We have taken all legal precautions to make sure that the ordinance is legally sound,” Srinivas Reddy said Thursday. The ordinance will effectively amend the state’s Panchayat Raj Act – 2018, to increase the reservation for BCs to 42 percent.

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The reservation for BCs is expected to face a legal challenge as implementation of this would breach the 49 percent reservation cap set by the Supreme Court of India. To breach this cap, state’s bills will have to be included in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, similar to Tamil Nadu, where the reservation cap has been increased to 69 percent.

Nikhila Henry

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

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