Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Cabinet has made a landmark decision to introduce 11.25% reservation in admissions for students belonging to Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in state public universities and government-aided higher secondary and higher education institutions. This decision will come into effect from the academic year 2025-26.
The move aims to promote access, equity, and inclusion in higher education, increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio and enhancing opportunities for marginalized and disadvantaged communities in Odisha. The reservation policy will be uniformly implemented across all state public universities and government-aided institutions under various departments, including School & Mass Education, Higher Education, Odia Language and Literature & Culture, and Sports & Youth Services.
With this decision, the state government has ensured that reservations will be provided to students belonging to different categories, including ST (22.5%), SC (16.25%), SEBC (11.25%), PwD (5%), and ESM (1%). This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes promoting equity and inclusion in education. The decision is expected to benefit students from marginalized communities and promote diversity in higher education institutions across Odisha.
Calling the Cabinet decision historic, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said, “This is a significant decision by the Odisha government towards social justice, especially for the people who are economically backward.”
The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP government has given the people of backward classes their constitutional rights, which were denied by the previous governments ruling the state.
