Telangana becomes first state to implement SC sub-categorisation: ‘Proud to have made history’
This comes months after a seven-judge Constitution Bench allowed further sub-classification of SCs and STs to ensure grant of quota to more backward castes inside these groups.
Written by Nikhila Henry
Hyderabad | Updated: April 15, 2025 04:58 AM IST
3 min read
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Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote on X, “Telangana is the first state in India to implement the revolutionary decision of SC sub-categorisation..." (Photo: X/ @revanth_anumula)
Telangana’s Congress government Monday issued a gazette notification that formally implemented Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation, popularly called reservation within reservation. According to the notification, Scheduled Castes in the state will be divided into three categories – Group I, II and III.
The Gazette notification, which implemented the Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2025, shows that Group I will get 1 percent reservation within the 15 percent quota for SCs; Group II will get 9 percent reservation; and Group III will get 5 percent reservation. Group I consists of 15 socio-economically backward castes, Group II has 18 and Group III has 26 such castes.
With this, Telangana becomes first state to implement SC sub-categorisation. This comes months after a seven-judge Constitution Bench allowed further sub-classification of SCs and STs to ensure grant of quota to more backward castes inside these groups.
According to the Gazette notification, the Act received the governor’s assent on April 8. “The said assent is hereby published on April 14, 2025 in the Telangana Gazette for general information,” the gazette read.
“From this moment (of the issue of the gazette) SC categorisation will be implemented in Telangana in employment and education. We have issued a Gazette and government order to this effect. The first copy of the gazette was given the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy,” Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, who was in-charge of overseeing the Cabinet sub-committee on SC sub-categorisation, said, adding: “If the population of SCs go up in the 2026 census, we will give reservation as per their population”.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote on X, “Telangana is the first state in India to implement the revolutionary decision of SC sub-categorisation. We are all proud to have made history. On the highly auspicious day of the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar, the Telangana state government paid the best tribute by bringing into force a great act of social justice, addressing a long overdue demand for classification of SC sub-castes.
He further said: “Empowering and ensuring opportunities for all sections of Dalits, the state government issued a gazette notification, whose first copy was handed over to me today by the committee that undertook the historic work”.
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The SC sub-categorisation was considered to be a difficult task for the Congress government because of strong opposition from Malas, a sub-caste among SCs who have been opposes to such subdivision. The Madigas of Telangana, however, have been agitating for 30 years demanding sub-categorisation of SCs.
On the day the Supreme court issued its judgment allowing sub-categorisaton of SCs and STs, Telangana Chief Min
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.
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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.
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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.
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