Bhubaneswar, Jun 2: The Odisha government has announced an increase in reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in professional education.

The policy will take effect from the 2026-27 academic year, covering engineering, medical, and other technical courses across universities, affiliated colleges, ITIs, and polytechnics in the state.

The Department of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare issued a formal memorandum on Tuesday, implementing the Cabinet’s decision taken on April 4. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had earlier declared the move and directed immediate execution.

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Previously, professional education offered only limited reservation: 12% for STs, 8% for SCs, and none for SEBC students. This imbalance raised concerns about how marginalized groups could secure proportional representation in employment when educational opportunities were restricted.

Under the new policy, ST students will now receive 22.5% reservation, SC students 16.25%, and SEBC students 11.25%. This aligns professional education with the reservation framework already in place for general higher education courses such as BA, BCom, and BSc.

Odisha’s population includes 22.85% Scheduled Tribes and 17.13% Scheduled Castes, while SEBC numbers are also significant. For decades, activists and community leaders had demanded parity in professional education, but earlier efforts failed to yield results.

The current government has delivered within two years of assuming office, marking a major step toward educational justice.

The enhanced reservation will apply to a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, technology, management, computer applications, medicine, surgery, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, veterinary science, Ayurveda, homeopathy, agriculture, architecture, planning, and cinematic arts.

This decision is expected to open new avenues for marginalized students, ensuring fair access to professional courses and strengthening their prospects in employment.