Andhra Pradesh issues ordinance to notify sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday issued an ordinance notifying the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes for the purpose of government jobs and education in the state, PTI reported.

Governor S Abdul Nazeer signed the ordinance on April 16, and it was published in the state gazette on April 17.

The ordinance, called the Andhra Pradesh Ordinance No. 2 of 2025, provides a framework to classify Scheduled Castes into three sub-groups so that disparities within the community in representation and access to government schemes can be addressed, The Hindu reported.

The state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on April 15 approved a proposal for the ordinance to sub-categorise 59 Scheduled Caste communities into three groups based on population, social and economic backwardness and social cohesion.

Twelve sub-castes, including the Chandala, Paki, Relli and Dome communities, have been placed in Group 1, which will receive 1% reservation.

Group 2 has 18 sub-castes like Chamar, Madiga, Sindhola and Matangi and will have 6.5% reservation. Group 3, with 29 sub-castes including Adhi Andhra and Panchama, will have 7.5% reservation.

The state government had earlier set up a one-man commission led by retired Indian Administrative Service officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, which recommended the sub-classification.

On August 1, the Supreme Court had allowed the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes quotas for...

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