BC reservation: Telangana Assembly passes 42 percent bill, Centre nod pending

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Assembly has passed the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 2025.

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar tabled two crucial bills–Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in the services under the state) Bill 2025, and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in rural and urban local bodies) Bill, 2025, during the ongoing Telangana Assembly Budget Sessions on Monday.

42 per cent reservation for members of the Backward Classes

Addressing the House during a debate on the bill, chief minister A Revanth Reddy said that the bill, which had previously been presented to the Assembly, called for a 42 per cent reservation for members of the Backward Classes (BCs) in employment, education and local bodies. All parties are united on reservations for BCs. He recalled that the Mandal Commission was formed for these reservations in 1979 itself and the legality of BC reservations lies with the Mandal Commission.

CM Revanth Reddy said that the process of caste census and BC reservation will be completed within a year and promised to get Parliament’s permission for a 42 per cent reservation for BCs. He stated that around 56.36 per cent of Telangana is made up of weaker sections and a declaration was made in the Kamareddy Sabha to stand by the weaker sections. The bill fulfilled the Congress’ commitment to increase reservations for the BCs, he added.

Congress govt withdrawing previous BRS proposal

“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vowed to increase BC reservation to 42 per cent if our party won power in the state. Soon after taking power, our people’s government started the BC caste census on February 4, 2024, which marked the start of the process of redeeming our pledge,” the chief minister said. Those who did not participate in the first phase of the survey have been given another chance. More than 3.55 crore people have provided complete details, he said and added that 75 thousand data entry operators participated in this survey.

CM Revanth Reddy also said that the former BRS government submitted a request to the Governor to increase BC reserve to 37 per cent.

“This government is withdrawing the earlier proposal and sending a new proposal of 42 per cent reservation for BCs in education, employment and local bodies,” he said.

CM Revanth Reddy also said that February 4 will be recognised as ‘Social Justice Day’ since the Assembly adopted the resolution that increased the BC quota on that day. After receiving feedback from a wide range of sources, the State government proposed a bill to provide BCs a 42 per cent reservation.

Government asks for a meeting with the PM to discuss bill

To advance the bill, he requested BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy, Union minister G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar to assume responsibility for scheduling a meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi. “I’m asking Rahul Gandhi to bring up this matter in Parliament so that it can be added to the Constitution’s ninth schedule. I am giving TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud the task of finding a time to meet Rahul Gandhi as soon as possible,” he said and added that the caste census report was 100 per cent correct.

“Telangana is proud to lead the social revolution in India. It is my honour to announce the longest pending demand of the subaltern groups since Indian Independence, the yearning of our brothers and sisters belonging to the Backward Castes, on being counted & recognised in an official census – has finally found deliverance,” the chief minister later posted on his X account.

BRS asks for an amendment

BRS MLA and former minister T Harish Rao said that former minister the BRS party will come together to fight in Parliament as well as to introduce a bill in the State Legislature. In the past, when KCR was in power, the BRS party brought 50 per cent reservation for BCs in the positions of market committee chairman and directors. For the first time in the country, the BRS party has introduced reservations in liquor shops for the Gouds, something that has never been done anywhere else in the country.

“Since the budget is being presented on March 19, we on behalf of the BRS party are requesting that three items be included without going into detail. If the Congress party has sincerity and true love for the BCs, we have proposed an amendment on behalf of BRS to include these three points. As much as 42 per cent reservation should be provided to BCs in government contracts,” Harish Rao said.

TPCC chief hopes BC population will enjoy fruits given by the Congress

TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud said, “It is a historic day for Telangana as well as the nation that under the leadership of CM Revanth Reddy, we have introduced 42 per cent reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections, education and employment. It is the first of its kind in the country. The Congress party has taken a bold decision. We also did the caste survey which was the first of its kind in the country. We have introduced the bill in the Assembly and I am hopeful that the Backward Classes population will enjoy the fruits given by the Congress party.”

He further said, “The BRS party ditched the farmers in all ways from the last 10 years. The Congress government has given a loan waiver of Rs 20 thousand 600 crores in a span of 11 months whereas the BRS party has given Rs 28 thousand crores of loan waiver in 10 years. This is the difference. We always work for the welfare of farmers.”

Telangana Backward Classes Commission chairman G Niranjan said, “It is historic to unanimously pass the bills in the Legislative Assembly today providing 42 per cent reservation for BCs in education, employment and local body elections. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Telangana. This bill will create opportunities for a better future for BCs. I am confident that the Central Government will take a decision in favour of this bill and fulfil the aspirations of the BCs.”

Reacting to the bill, Congress senior leader V Hanumanth Rao thanked Revanth Reddy, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud for introducing and passing the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 2025.

Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an appointment for an all-party delegation, including Congress, BRS, BJP, AIMIM and CPI leaders.The delegation's goal is to persuade the Center to approve two legislation that were unanimously enacted, increasing the number of backward class reservations in local government, education, and the workforce to 42%.