Odisha Government Expands Quota System for Medical and Technical Education

The Odisha government has unveiled a new notification to enhance quotas for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) while introducing a quota for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in medical and technical education, effective from the academic year 2026-27. This decision, made by the state cabinet, aims to increase access to education for these communities. The new regulations will allow students from these categories to apply for various courses across universities and colleges in the state. With significant portions of the population belonging to these groups, the move is seen as a step towards greater educational equity.

By Ambika Singh Jun 2, 2026, 22:43 IST

New Quota Implementation Announced

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has officially announced a new notification aimed at enhancing the quota for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), while also introducing a quota for Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in the fields of medical and technical education, effective from the academic year 2026-27.

This decision was made by the state cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, during a meeting on April 4 of this year. The notification has been issued by the Department of ST and SC Development, Minorities, and Backward Classes Welfare.

According to the new regulations, the quota for ST students will increase from 12% to 22.5%, while the SC quota will rise from 8% to 16.25%. Additionally, an 11.25% quota has been established for OBC students, referred to as SEBC in Odisha.

It is important to note that seats reserved under the all-India quota will not be counted when determining the total number of approved seats.

Furthermore, the horizontal reservation system and the quota for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) will be implemented as per existing guidelines.

Students from these categories will now be eligible to apply for a variety of courses, including engineering, ITI, diploma programs, technology, management, computer applications, medicine, surgery, dental studies, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, and veterinary science, across various universities and affiliated colleges in the state, as stated by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

The CMO also highlighted that the SEBC or OBC communities have received their rights 79 years post-independence.

In Odisha, the Scheduled Tribe population stands at 22.85%, while 17.13% of the population belongs to the Scheduled Caste. Although the exact number of educationally and socially backward classes is not specified, it is believed to be significantly high.