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Divided quotas: 4 State laws that split the Scheduled Caste reservation

Which States divide the reservation for Scheduled Castes among groups of castes, how, from when, and with what shares, before and since India’s Supreme Court upheld it in August 2024?

By The Dalit ProjectUPDATED OCTOBER 10, 2026

Key takeaways

  • 4 State laws read so far divide the SC reservation, from Punjab in 2006 to Andhra Pradesh in 2025. Exhibit 1
  • In Andhra Pradesh, Group I gets 1%, Group II 6.5% and Group III 7.5% of posts and seats. Exhibit 2
  • In Telangana, Group I gets 1%, Group II 9% and Group III 5% of posts and seats. Exhibit 3
  • Of every 200 posts filled in turn in Andhra Pradesh, Group I gets 2, Group II 13 and Group III 15. Exhibit 4

State laws that divide the reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), the castes listed for each State under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, among groups of castes, each with its own share or a part of the SC share set aside for some castes. The Supreme Court held such laws valid in State of Punjab v Davinder Singh on 1 August 2024. So far: Punjab’s Act No. 22 of 2006, Haryana’s Act No. 14 of 2020, Telangana’s Act No. 15 of 2025 and Andhra Pradesh’s Act No. 22 of 2025.

State laws read that divide the SC reservation, 2006 to 2025
4
made since the Supreme Court’s judgment of 1 August 2024
2

  1. Exhibit 1

    4 State laws divide the Scheduled Caste reservation among castes, from Punjab in 2006 to Andhra Pradesh in 2025

    Each State whose law dividing the reservation for Scheduled Castes has been read: the law, what it applies to, and how it divides the Scheduled Caste share.

    StateLawApplies toHow the Scheduled Caste share is divided
    PunjabAct 22 of 2006Direct recruitment to State postsHalf of the 25% SC share offered first to Balmikis and Mazhbi Sikhs, if available
    HaryanaAct 14 of 2020Admission to government colleges and universitiesHalf of the 20% SC share for 36 Deprived Scheduled Castes
    TelanganaAct 15 of 2025State posts and seats in educational institutionsGroup I (15 castes) 1%, Group II (18 castes) 9% and Group III (26 castes) 5% of posts and seats
    Andhra PradeshAct 22 of 2025State posts and seats in educational institutionsGroup I (12 castes) 1%, Group II (18 castes) 6.5% and Group III (29 castes) 7.5% of posts and seats

    Note: States are added as each one’s law or order is read. A State missing from the table may have acted: its law has not yet been read.

    Source: each State’s law, as published in its gazette and hosted by PRS Legislative Research; listed under Sources. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

  2. Exhibit 2

    In Andhra Pradesh, Group I’s 12 castes get 1%, Group II’s 18 get 6.5% and Group III’s 29 get 7.5% of posts and seats

    Share of posts in public services and seats in educational institutions reserved for each group of Scheduled Castes in Andhra Pradesh, %, from 17 Apr 2025, in the order the Act gives them. Together they make up the 15% reserved for Scheduled Castes.

    1. Group I (12 castes)1.0%
    2. Group II (18 castes)6.5%
    3. Group III (29 castes)7.5%

    Note: Each group’s share is “subject to the availability of eligible candidates” (section 3). The Act leaves what happens to a share no eligible candidate takes to rules made under section 8.

    Source: Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Act, 2025 (Act No. 22 of 2025), Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part IV-B Extraordinary, No. 22, 24 October 2025, as hosted by PRS Legislative Research. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

  3. Exhibit 3

    In Telangana, Group I’s 15 castes get 1%, Group II’s 18 get 9% and Group III’s 26 get 5% of posts and seats

    Share of posts in public services and seats in educational institutions reserved for each group of Scheduled Castes in Telangana, %, under Telangana Act 15 of 2025, in the order the Act gives them.

    1. Group I (15 castes)1.0%
    2. Group II (18 castes)9.0%
    3. Group III (26 castes)5.0%

    Note: The Act takes effect on a date the State Government notifies in the Telangana Gazette (section 1(3)); the notification has not been read. Each group’s share is subject to eligible candidates being available (section 3). The Act does not say what happens to a share no eligible candidate takes.

    Source: Government of Telangana, Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025 (Act No. 15 of 2025), Telangana Gazette, Part IV-B Extraordinary, No. 15, 14 April 2025, as hosted by PRS Legislative Research. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

  4. Exhibit 4

    In Andhra Pradesh, of every 200 posts filled in turn, Group I gets 2, Group II gets 13 and Group III gets 15

    The roster points earmarked for each group in Andhra Pradesh’s 200-point roster, which runs in two cycles numbered 1 to 100.

    GroupRoster points, first cycleRoster points, second cyclePoints of 200Share of posts
    Group I2221.0%
    Group II7, 22, 41, 52, 66, 777, 22, 41, 52, 66, 77, 97136.5%
    Group III16, 27, 47, 62, 72, 87, 91, 9716, 27, 47, 62, 72, 87, 91157.5%

    Note: The roster points are read from tables printed as images in the Act. Each group’s points out of 200 match its share. Telangana’s Act leaves roster points to rules (section 8).

    Source: Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Act, 2025 (Act No. 22 of 2025), Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part IV-B Extraordinary, No. 22, 24 October 2025, as hosted by PRS Legislative Research. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

  5. Exhibit 5

    Andhra Pradesh’s 59 Scheduled Castes in three groups: 12 in Group I, 18 in Group II and 29 in Group III

    Each caste and the group the Act puts it in, with the serial number and name the Act prints, in the Act’s order.

    GroupSerial numberCaste, as the Act names it
    Group I8Bavuri
    Group I12Chachati
    Group I16Chandala
    Group I18Dandasi
    Group I20Dom, Dombara, Paidi, Pano
    Group I22Ghasi, Haddi, Relli-Chachandi
    Group I23Godagali, Godagula
    Group I48Mehtar
    Group I51Paky, Moti, Thoti
    Group I53Pamidi
    Group I55Relli
    Group I58Sapru
    Group II5Arundhatiya
    Group II10Bindla
    Group II14Chamar, Mochi, Muchi, Chamar-Ravidas, Chamar-Rohidas
    Group II15Chambhar
    Group II17Dakkal, Dokkalwar
    Group II19Dhor
    Group II24Godari
    Group II25Gosangi
    Group II28Jaggali
    Group II29Jambuvulu
    Group II30Kolupulavandlu, Pambada, Pambanda, Pambala
    Group II32Madiga
    Group II33MadigaDasu, Mashteen
    Group II43Mang
    Group II44MangGarodi
    Group II47Matangi
    Group II56Samagara
    Group II59Sindhollu, Chindollu
    Group III2AdiDravida
    Group III3Anamuk
    Group III4Aray Mala
    Group III6Arwa Mala
    Group III7Bariki
    Group III11Byagara, Byagari
    Group III13Chalavadi
    Group III21Ellamalawar, Yellammalawandlu
    Group III26Holeya
    Group III27HoleyaDasari
    Group III31MadasiKuruva, MadariKuruva
    Group III34Mahar
    Group III35Mala, Mala Ayawaru
    Group III36Mala Dasari
    Group III37Mala Dasu
    Group III38Mala Hannai
    Group III39Malajangam
    Group III40Mala Masti
    Group III41Mala Sale, Netkani
    Group III42Mala Sanyasi
    Group III45Manne
    Group III50Mundala
    Group III57Samban
    Group III60Yatala
    Group III61Valluvan
    Group III1Adi Andhra
    Group III46Mashti
    Group III49MithaAyyalvar
    Group III54Panchama, Pariah

    Note: Names and serial numbers as the Act prints them, read from tables printed as images. The Act groups the castes on “population, inter-se backwardness, and social cohesion” (section 3). The lists do not print serial numbers 9 and 52.

    Source: Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Act, 2025 (Act No. 22 of 2025), Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part IV-B Extraordinary, No. 22, 24 October 2025, as hosted by PRS Legislative Research. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

  6. Exhibit 6

    Telangana’s 59 Scheduled Castes in three groups: 15 in Group I, 18 in Group II and 26 in Group III

    Each caste and the group the Act puts it in, with the serial number and name the Act prints, in the Act’s order.

    GroupSerial numberCaste, as the Act names it
    Group I1Bavuri
    Group I2Beda (Budga) Jangam
    Group I3Chachati
    Group I4Dakkal, Dokkalwar
    Group I5Jaggali
    Group I6Kolupulvandlu, Pambada, Pambanda, Pambala
    Group I7Mang
    Group I8Mang Garodi
    Group I9Manne
    Group I10Mashti
    Group I11Matangi
    Group I12Mehtar
    Group I13Mundala
    Group I14Samban
    Group I15Sapru
    Group II1Arundhatiya
    Group II2Bindla
    Group II3Chamar, Mochi, Muchi, Chamar-Ravidas, Chamar-Rohidas
    Group II4Chambhar
    Group II5Chandala
    Group II6Dandasi
    Group II7Dom, Dombara, Paidi, Pano
    Group II8Ellamalawar, Yellammalawandlu
    Group II9Godari
    Group II10Jambuvulu
    Group II11Madiga
    Group II12Madiga Dasu,Mashteen
    Group II13Pamidi
    Group II14Panchama, Pariah
    Group II15Samagara
    Group II16Sindhollu, Chindollu
    Group II17Yatala
    Group II18Valluvan
    Group III1Adi Andhra
    Group III2Adi Dravida
    Group III3Anamuk
    Group III4Aray Mala
    Group III5Arwa Mala
    Group III6Bariki
    Group III7Byagara, Byagari
    Group III8Chalavadi
    Group III9Dhor
    Group III10Ghasi, Haddi, Relli, Chanchandi
    Group III11Gosangi
    Group III12Holeya
    Group III13Holeya Dasari
    Group III14Madasi Kuruva, Madari Kuruva
    Group III15Mahar
    Group III16Mala, Mala Ayawaru
    Group III17Mala Dasari
    Group III18Mala Dasu
    Group III19Mala Hannai
    Group III20Malajangam
    Group III21Mala Masti
    Group III22Mala Sale, Netkani
    Group III23Mala Sanyasi
    Group III24Mitha Ayyalvar
    Group III25Paky, Moti, Thoti
    Group III26Relli

    Note: Names as the Act prints them, read from page images; the Act numbers the castes afresh in each group. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, divided in 2014, put some of the same castes in different groups.

    Source: Government of Telangana, Telangana Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservations) Act, 2025 (Act No. 15 of 2025), Telangana Gazette, Part IV-B Extraordinary, No. 15, 14 April 2025, as hosted by PRS Legislative Research. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026.

What’s next

The next update

We will update these figures as each further State’s law or order is read from its gazette. This is version 2.

What the data can’t tell us yet

How many posts or seats each group has actually filled, or how many people are in each group: no State law gives either.

What you can do

About this data

What this shows
Which States divide the reservation for Scheduled Castes among castes, what each law applies to, each group’s share, its castes and, where given, its roster points.
Source
Government of Punjab; Punjab Gazette (copy hosted by PRS Legislative Research); Government of Haryana; Haryana Gazette (copy hosted by PRS Legislative Research); Government of Telangana; Telangana Gazette (copy hosted by PRS Legislative Research); Government of Andhra Pradesh; Andhra Pradesh Gazette (copy hosted by PRS Legislative Research), 4 documents. Analysis by The Dalit Project, as on 10 Oct 2026. Every source
What it does not show
How many posts or seats each group has actually filled, or how many people are in each group: no State law gives either.
Last updated
10 Oct 2026 · Next expected update: as each further State’s law or order is read from its gazette
Corrections
Changelog (version 2) · Corrections policy

Sources, caveats and definitions