Telangana Assembly Passes Bills to Provide 42% Reservation for Backward Classes

New Delhi— The Telangana Assembly on Monday passed two significant Bills, paving the way for 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in government jobs, educational institutions, and urban and rural local body elections.

The Bills, titled the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments for Posts in Services Under the State) Bill, 2025 and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025, were introduced after the Zero Hour. Additionally, another Bill addressing sub-caste reservations for BCs was also tabled in the House.

The move follows the state government's caste survey, which revealed that BCs—including certain Muslim caste groups—constitute 56.33% of Telangana’s population.

The Bills received support from both the ruling Congress and opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Introducing the Bills, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar emphasized the need for unanimity, stating, "There should be one voice from the Telangana Assembly supporting these Bills. Backward Classes have become the backbone classes in the country."

CM Revanth Reddy on BC Quota Expansion

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy highlighted that the increase in BC reservation was a key promise made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "We wanted to send a strong message to Telangana society that the entire Assembly stands united in increasing the BC quota. My gratitude to everyone cooperating in this historic moment," he said.

The previous government had proposed increasing BC reservation to 37%, but the current administration is withdrawing that proposal and forwarding a new one to the Centre, the CM added. Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized that the caste survey was conducted scientifically and that the Bills would be sent to the central government for approval.

Appeal to the Central Government

Revanth Reddy assured the House that he would take proactive steps to secure the implementation of the 42% reservation. "Leaders of all parties are welcome to join efforts to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and push for this reservation. It can only be implemented if the Centre includes the new allocation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution," he explained.

He urged Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar to facilitate a meeting with the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi will also be involved in raising the issue in Parliament, he added. The CM has already written to Modi, seeking an appointment on the matter.

Opposition Voices and Concerns

BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao expressed unconditional support for the Bills. Similarly, BRS BC leader Gangula Kamalakar emphasized that BC communities had long suffered injustices and urged the state government to implement all possible BC welfare programs without delay.

BJP leader Payal Shankar, while supporting the reservation, raised concerns about the caste survey’s methodology and opposed any religious-based quotas. "We support BC reservation but must ensure that the survey was conducted scientifically. Also, reservation should not be granted based on religion," he said.

However, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi countered this argument, clarifying that the reservation does not apply to Muslims as a whole but only to backward Muslim caste groups. "This is not religious-based reservation. It is for Backward Classes among Muslims. Some parties should stop dividing the country on religious lines," he asserted.