Telangana Assembly passes BC quota & SC sub-categorisation legislation

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly on Monday passed significant bills related to 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) and the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs). These include the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025, the Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Bill, 2025, and the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services Under the State Bill, 2025. All bills were passed by voice vote during Monday's session.

The BC reservations bill, which exceeds the 50 per cent threshold, will now be forwarded to Parliament for approval. Once the SC categorisation bill passes in the Council and becomes law, Telangana will become the first state in India to implement SC sub-categorisation as permitted by the Supreme Court.

Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha presented the SC sub-categorisation bill, while Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar introduced the bill related to BC reservations.

During the discussion, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy highlighted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had promised to enhance BC reservations to 42 per cent if Congress came to power. Following through on this commitment, the government launched a BC caste census on February 4, 2024.

"The previous government sent a proposal to the Governor to increase BC reservation to 37 per cent. This government is withdrawing the earlier proposal and sending a new proposal of 42 per cent reservation for BCs in education, employment, and political opportunities," Revanth Reddy said. February 4 is now being observed as 'Social Justice Day', as the government adopted a resolution for enhancing the BC quota on this day.

The Chief Minister appealed to leaders across party lines to join together and meet with the Prime Minister on this issue. "Let us also take the required legal assistance to increase BC reservation to 42 per cent," he said, requesting Union Ministers Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay, and the BJP floor leader to arrange an appointment with Prime Minister Modi.

He also announced plans to request Rahul Gandhi to raise this issue in Parliament, tasking TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud with securing a meeting with the Congress leader. "As the leader of the House, I assure you that the BC census report is 100 per cent correct. It is everyone's responsibility to support the BC bill in Parliament. We will not rest until 42 per cent reservation is achieved for BCs. We remain committed to the Kamareddy Declaration," he affirmed.