Odisha Govt mulls OBC reservation in medical and engineering education

In a major move aimed at addressing the long-standing demand of backward classes, the Odisha government has plans to extend reservation benefits to medical and engineering education from the current academic year, sources said on Wednesday.

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According to the sources, the Mohan Majhi-led government is preparing to introduce 11.25 per cent seat reservation for Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) in professional courses such as medicine and engineering. Until now, OBC reservation in the State was limited to higher education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

In a significant proposal, the government is also considering doubling the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in medical and engineering institutions. As per the recommendations, SC reservation would be increased from 8 per cent to 16.25 per cent, while ST reservation would rise from 12 per cent to 22.5 per cent.

The policy recommendation has been made by the Policy Formulation Committee of the Skill Development and Technical Education Department and has been forwarded to the State government for approval. Preparations have already begun to implement the proposal for the ongoing academic year.

Committee member and legislator Santosh Khatua stated that the decision was taken to align reservations in higher education with the existing reservation pattern in government recruitment, where SC and ST communities receive higher quotas.

However, the Opposition parties have raised objections, stating that reservations should not be confined to education alone. They have demanded that OBC reservation also be extended to government jobs.

A state-level outfit of the backward classes has welcomed the proposed move but reiterated its demand for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, instead of the planned 11.25 per cent.

Notably, the Odisha government has already approved the schedule for Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE). Sources indicated that the reservation proposal of the policy committee may soon receive Cabinet approval, paving the way for its implementation in medical and engineering admissions.