Why the 2026 Quota Hike is a Recreation-Changer for 22,000+ College students
3 min learnBhubaneswarUp to date: Apr 5, 2026 08:18 AM IST
The variety of seats reserved for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) college students in medical, engineering, larger and technical training programs has nearly been doubled in Odisha, with the state authorities making main modifications within the reservation coverage.
In a late-night cupboard resolution Saturday, the BJP authorities in Odisha elevated reservation of seats in medical, engineering, and different larger/technical training programs in Odisha. It additionally accredited reservation of seats in these programs for college students belonging to backward lessons.
In response to officers, seats reserved for ST college students will enhance from 12 p.c to 22.50 p.c, and for SC college students from 8 p.c to 16.25 p.c. The reservation has been allowed in accordance with their inhabitants measurement within the state, mentioned an official.
Equally, 11.25 p.c seats will now be reserved for college students from the socially and educationally backward lessons, who weren’t getting any reservation earlier.
By giving 11.25 p.c reservation to the SCBC college students, the overall variety of reserved seats has been saved inside 50 per cent.
“The reservation coverage will likely be applied in all of the state universities, their affiliated faculties and academic establishments (ITIs) and polytechnics within the fields of engineering, expertise, administration, laptop functions, medication surgical procedure, dental, nursing, pharmacy, allied well being sciences,” mentioned chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the cupboard resolution.
The brand new reservation coverage can even be utilized for programs comparable to veterinary science, ayurveda, homeopathy, agriculture and allied sciences, structure, planning, cinematic artwork and expertise and related programs, mentioned the chief minister.
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Consequently, out of the overall 2,421 medical seats in beneath graduate (UG) and publish graduate (PG) degree within the state, 545 seats will likely be reserved for ST college students, which was earlier 290 at 12 per cent reservation. Whereas 193 UG and PG seats have been earmarked for the SC college students at 8% reservation, it has now been elevated to 393. For the SCBC college students, 272 seats in medical programs will likely be reserved.
Equally, out of the overall 44,579 engineering seats, 10,030 seats will likely be reserved for ST, 7,244 for SC, and 5,015 for SEBC college students. As per present reservation coverage, the quantity was 5,349 for ST and three,566 for SC college students.
“Because the variety of seats reserved for ST, SC college students have been far beneath their inhabitants measurement and there was no reservation for SCBC college students, it prompted hindrances in making certain social justice and empowerment of those communities. No earlier governments had taken any steps on this regard. I’m extraordinarily completely satisfied that we’ve taken the steps to make sure instructional rights to the SC, ST and backward lessons,” Majhi mentioned.
BJP sources mentioned the choice will have far-reaching affect, not simply to make sure social justice but additionally to assist the BJP politically to strengthen its place within the state.
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