In a pivotal decision, the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly has officially passed a Bill designed to implement a sub-classification system among its 59 Scheduled Castes. The primary goal of this legislation is to ensure that reservation benefits in both education and public employment are distributed more fairly across these communities.
Minister for Social Welfare, Disabled, and Senior Citizen Welfare, Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, presented the Bill on Tuesday, emphasizing its importance in fostering fairness and providing equitable opportunities for all Scheduled Castes within the state.
Currently, Scheduled Castes are allocated a 15% reservation in public sector jobs and various educational institutions. This new Bill aligns with fundamental constitutional principles, specifically Articles 14 to 16, and reflects the Directive Principles of State Policy outlined in Articles 38, 39, 41, and 46. These articles collectively underscore the commitment to social justice, equal opportunities, and protective measures for communities that are socially and educationally disadvantaged.
Under the new, carefully considered classification, the 15% reservation will be divided as follows: Group I, comprising 12 ‘Most Backward’ castes, will receive 6.5%; Group II, consisting of 18 ‘Backward’ castes, will be allocated 7.5%; and Group III, which includes 29 castes, will receive 1%.
This legislative action formalizes the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Ordinance, 2025, which was initially promulgated by the Governor on April 16, 2025, and subsequently published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette on April 17, 2025. The recently introduced Bill now seeks to replace this ordinance, embedding these crucial provisions into permanent law.
The entire initiative gains its momentum from a significant Supreme Court judgment delivered on August 1, 2024. In W.P. Civil Appeal No. 2317 of 2011 and related cases, a seven-judge bench, with a 6:1 majority, upheld the constitutional validity of sub-classifying Scheduled Castes. Following this landmark ruling, the Andhra Pradesh government established a One-Man Commission, led by retired IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, under the Commission of Inquiry Act. This commission was tasked with recommending detailed sub-classifications for the state’s Scheduled Caste sub-groups, and its recommendations have since been approved by the government, paving the way for this historic Bill.