State aligns reservation policy with national framework, expands quotas in technical and medical education
April 5, 2026: The Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has approved an 11.25% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in medical and technical courses, while significantly increasing quotas for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC). The decision will be लागू across universities and affiliated institutions offering professional courses such as engineering, medicine, and management. Under the revised framework, ST reservation rises from 12% to 22.50%, while SC quota increases from 8% to 16.25%, marking a major shift in the state’s education policy.
The move brings Odisha closer to national reservation practices, where central institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Technology, and Indian Institutes of Management follow a 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The updated policy will apply across a wide range of courses, including medicine, dental sciences, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary science, Ayurveda, and agriculture. Of 2,421 medical seats in the state, 545 will go to ST students, 393 to SC students, and 272 to SEBC candidates, while engineering seats will also see proportional allocation under the new structure.
The decision comes amid sustained demands from backward class groups seeking better representation in professional education, where SEBC students earlier had limited quota access. By introducing a dedicated SEBC reservation and expanding SC/ST quotas, the state government aims to improve inclusivity and ensure wider access to technical and medical education, addressing long-standing concerns raised by student bodies and community organisations.