In a significant step towards promoting social equity in education, the Odisha Cabinet has approved an 11.25 per cent reservation for students from socially and economically backwards classes (SEBC) in admissions to higher education institutions statewide. This decision, made during the State Cabinet meeting on May 14, has been celebrated as a historic advancement by various stakeholders, including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that starting from the academic year 2025–26, students belonging to the SEBC category will benefit from this reservation in government and government-aided higher education institutions. The reservation applies to public universities, higher secondary schools, and institutions under various departments, including School & Mass Education, Higher Education, Odia Language, Literature & Culture, and Sports & Youth Services.
ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdishaଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ରାଜ୍ୟ କ୍ୟାବିନେଟ୍ ସାମାଜିକ ଓ ଅର୍ଥନୈତିକ ଭାବେ ପଛୁଆ ବର୍ଗ (SEBC) ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଉଚ୍ଚଶିକ୍ଷାରେ ୧୧.୨୫% ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଲାଗୁ କରିବାକୁ ଅନୁମୋଦନ ଦେଇଛି । ୨୦୨୫- ୨୬ ଶିକ୍ଷାବର୍ଷରୁ ସରକାରୀ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ, ମାଧ୍ୟମିକ (+୨) ଓ ବୃତ୍ତିମୂଳକ ଶିକ୍ଷା… pic.twitter.com/tegjHWhZ61
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) May 14, 2025
According to the government, this initiative aims to ensure a uniform implementation of reservations across all State Public Universities and government-aided higher education institutions. The reservations will be as follows: ST (22.5 per cent), SC (16.25 per cent), SEBC (11.25 per cent), PwD (5 per cent), and ESM (1 per cent).
ABVP Lauds the State Government’s Decision
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which has actively advocated for educational justice for SEBC students, has welcomed the Cabinet’s decision as a significant victory.
Deeptimayee Pratihari, ABVP’s Odisha State Secretary, expressed gratitude, stating, “ABVP has been engaged in a sustained movement to secure justice for SEBC students. This long-standing effort has finally paid off. We thank the State Government for addressing this critical issue and ensuring justice for thousands of students.”
Big win For ABVP
As ABVP Demanded Reservation for SEBC students in Higher Education.Just now
Chief minister of Odissa SHRI MOHAN CHARAN MAJHI declared 11. 25 % researvation for *SEBC* Student on higher education admission.#ABVPForstudents @ABVPVoice @abvpodisha— Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki (@DrVirendraSS) May 14, 2025
On social media, ABVP’s National General Secretary, Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki, celebrated the announcement, writing: “A big win for ABVP! As we demanded, Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has announced 11.25 per cent reservation for SEBC students in higher education admissions.”
Union Education Minister Thanks PM Modi and CM Majhi
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for implementing what he called a “historic and socially transformative” decision.
In a post on ‘X’ and an official press statement, Pradhan noted that over 52 per cent of Odisha’s population belongs to the SEBC category. “This historic decision will empower SEBC communities and promote social justice. From the perspective of the National Education Policy, this step will enhance educational access for backward classes and significantly contribute to building a developed Odisha and a developed India,” he stated.
ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସରକାରଙ୍କ ଐତିହାସିକ ନିଷ୍ପତି ।
ସାମାଜିକ ଆର୍ଥିକ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିରୁ ପଛୁଆ ବର୍ଗ ତଥା ଏସଇବିସି ବର୍ଗର ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ଉଚ୍ଚ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ଉଚ୍ଚ ମାଧ୍ୟମିକ ଶିକ୍ଷା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ୧୧.୨୫% ଆସନ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଦେବା ପାଇଁ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜ୍ୟ କ୍ୟାବିନେଟ୍ ମଞ୍ଜୁର ଦେଇଥିବାରୁ ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଏବଂ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ…
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 14, 2025
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is guided by the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.’ The primary aim of all our programs and schemes is to promote social justice. Despite persistent demands for constitutional reservations for SEBC communities to enhance their social and economic status, previous governments neglected these requests and failed to take action,” he said.
“At a time when the Modi government is implementing historic initiatives, such as a national caste-based census, the Odisha government’s recent decision is a welcome development. Shri Pradhan has expressed gratitude to the state government for this significant step,” added Pradhan.
It is important to note that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had previously written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on April 17, advocating for reservations in education and employment for SEBC and OBC communities.
Before this, Shri Pradhan had sent three letters to the former Chief Minister regarding this issue on December 31, 2020; January 15, 2021; and July 25, 2019,but the previous government demonstrated no serious commitment to addressing it.
Photo Caption : Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi is briefing the media about the Cabinet decisions at Lok Seva Bhavan after the Cabinet meeting.
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