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Dr. D. Ravi Kumar asked the government to provide institution-wise details of reserved seats and actual enrollments for SC/ST/OBC students in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Institutions of Excellence (IoEs) receiving financial or policy support from the government.

During the Budget Session in the Lok Sabha, a crucial question was raised regarding the status of Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) students in higher education. Dr. D. Ravi Kumar, a YSR Congress Party MP from Andhra Pradesh, asked the Education Minister whether the government has assessed the enrollment of SC, ST, and OBC students in private higher education institutions (HEIs) in light of the recent All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23 data? Let's find out what the government's response was and what these figures reveal about the number of students from these categories in private universities.

The YSRCP MP asked these questions:

Dr. D. Ravi Kumar asked for institution-wise details of reserved seats and actual enrollments for SC/ST/OBC students in private HEIs and Institutions of Excellence (IoEs) receiving financial or policy support from the government. If the government has not conducted such an assessment, what are the reasons? Also, is the government planning to implement monitoring, disclosure, or compliance mechanisms linked to grants, scholarships, or IoE status to ensure adherence to reservation, equity, and inclusion norms? If yes, what are the details and timelines?

The Minister of State for Education gave this reply:

Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, stated in the Lok Sabha that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Therefore, increasing the participation of all communities in higher education is the responsibility of both the central and state governments. The Ministry is running several schemes, projects, and programs in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The main objective of NEP 2020 is to ensure that no child misses out on the opportunity for quality education and success due to their birth circumstances or background. This policy emphasizes reducing disparities among social groups, providing greater opportunities for women, and improving learning outcomes.

What is the situation in higher education?

The minister stated that the government implemented the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act in 2006.  Under this Act, 15% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in central institutions. Since January 2019, a 10% reservation has also been implemented for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). A 5% horizontal reservation is also provided for Persons with Disabilities (PwBD). The central government has taken several steps to increase access to higher education, with a special focus on women and disadvantaged sections. These steps include reducing fees, establishing more institutions, providing scholarships, and giving priority to economically weaker students in national-level scholarships. The government also runs scholarships and fellowships for all higher education institutions (HEIs), including eligible private institutions, to increase access for students from socially backward groups.

What do the statistics show?

Data from AISHE 2022-23 shows a significant increase in the share of SC/ST/OBC students in total higher education enrollment in the country. The combined share of SC/ST/OBC has reached 60.8%, while the share of the general category (including EWS) is approximately 39%. In government institutions, the share of SC/ST/OBC is 62.2%, while in private institutions, it is also around 60%. This indicates that students from these categories are progressing not only through reservations but also on merit.