Education

Education was promised as a way out of caste: where schools and universities break it, and where they keep it in place.

Campus

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Admitted, then the same exams: four of seven rules checked after admission are the same for SC students

Does reservation in higher education stop at admission, or do the rules after it differ for Scheduled Caste students?

Updated 11 Oct 2026

Exhibit 5

In the Civil Services Examinations of 2006 to 2009, 63 SC candidates were selected on general merit, 15 in 2006, 19 in 2007, 11 in 2008 and 18 in 2009

SC candidates recommended by the Union Public Service Commission in the general category, by examination year, Civil Services Examination, 2006 to 2009.

  1. 152006
  2. 192007
  3. 112008
  4. 182009
Source: Lok Sabha, unstarred question 2177, answered 9 Mar 2011, part (a). Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 11 Oct 2026.
4 of 7rules checked after admission are the same for SC students14.2%of dropouts the Ministry counted, 2019 to 2023, were SC students

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From school to PhD, the SC share of students is lower at every stage: 17.7% of school students, 10.0% of PhD students

What share of students are from Scheduled Castes at each stage, from school to PhD?

Updated 12 Oct 2026

Exhibit 1

SC students are 17.7% of school students, 15.5% of college and university students, 10.0% of PhD students and 8.9% of those who completed a PhD

Scheduled Caste students as a share of all students at each stage, %, India. School 2025-26; higher education 2023-24.

  1. School, pre-primary to class 12 (2025-26)17.7%
  2. College and university, all levels (2023-24)15.5%
  3. PhD students (2023-24)10.0%
  4. PhDs completed (2023-24)8.9%
Source: Ministry of Education, UDISE+ 2025-26 (existing structure), Table 2.4; Source: Ministry of Education, AISHE 2023-24 Final Report, Tables 45, 11 and 35. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 12 Oct 2026.
17.7%of school students are SC, 2025-2610.0%of PhD students are SC, 2023-24