Telangana Assembly passes two Bills to raise Backward Classes reservation to 42% in education, jobs and local bodies; Centre's approval needed
The Telangana Legislative Assembly on 17 March 2025 unanimously passed two Bills raising reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42% in educational institutions, state government jobs and rural and urban local bodies; since total reservation would breach the 50% cap, the laws need the Centre's approval.
Summary
The Telangana Legislative Assembly on 17 March 2025 passed the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in services under the State) Bill, 2025 and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025. Once approved, BCs would get 42%, Scheduled Castes 15% and Scheduled Tribes 10% reservation in the State. The Bills follow the State's caste survey and the recommendation of a dedicated commission for at least 42% BC reservation. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said the BC quota in local bodies would rise from 23% to 42%, and since this would breach the 50% ceiling on quotas, he would lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister to seek the Centre's support.
Key facts
- Date
- 17 March 2025
- House
- Telangana Legislative Assembly (passed unanimously)
- Bills
- Education & State services Bill 2025; Rural & Urban Local Bodies Bill 2025
- Proposed shares
- BC 42%, SC 15%, ST 10%
- Local bodies
- BC quota from 23% to 42%
- Hurdle
- Breaches 50% cap — needs Centre's approval
Practice MCQs 4 questions
To what level did the two Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly on 17 March 2025 seek to raise reservation for Backward Classes?
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Correct answer: D — 42%
The two Bills seek to raise BC reservation to 42% in education, State government jobs and rural and urban local bodies.
Under the Telangana Bills passed on 17 March 2025, what would be the reservation shares of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes alongside 42% for Backward Classes?
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Correct answer: A — SC 15%, ST 10%
Once approved, BCs would get 42%, SCs 15% and STs 10% reservation in the State.
According to Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy (17 March 2025), the BC quota in local bodies is to be raised to 42% from what level?
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Correct answer: B — 23%
The CM said the government was committed to the BC Declaration promising to raise the BC quota in local bodies from 23% to 42%.
Consider the following statements about Telangana's BC reservation Bills of March 2025: 1. They were passed only after the Centre gave its prior approval to breach the 50% ceiling. 2. One of the two Bills covers reservation of seats in rural and urban local bodies. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the Bills were passed by the Assembly first and need the Centre's approval afterwards because total reservation (BC 42% + SC 15% + ST 10%) would exceed the 50% cap set in Indra Sawhney. Statement 2 is correct.