In a landmark policy development with far-reaching implications, the Andhra Pradesh government has approved an ordinance that could redefine the way affirmative action is implemented in India. The move, centered around sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), signals a shift from a monolithic approach to reservations toward a more layered and equitable model.
Let’s break down what this means, why it matters, and how it could reshape the future of social justice policies—not just in Andhra Pradesh, but potentially across India.
What Is Sub-Categorisation and Why Now?
At its core, sub-categorisation is the idea of “reservation within reservation.” Instead of a blanket quota system for all SC communities, this approach divides that quota among various sub-castes based on their relative levels of social, economic, and educational backwardness.
The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that allowed state governments the authority to sub-classify SCs to ensure a fairer distribution of benefits. Riding on that judicial clarity, the Andhra government formed a one-man commission headed by retired IAS officer Rajeev Ranjan Mishra in 2024 to study the landscape of backwardness among SCs across the state’s districts.
Following months of public consultation and detailed analysis, the Mishra Commission submitted a report recommending a three-tiered classification within the SC quota—aimed at leveling the playing field.
How Have SC Communities Been Classified?
The report identifies 59 sub-castes within Andhra Pradesh’s SC population and groups them into three categories:
- Group 1 – Most Disadvantaged
Sub-castes like Relli, Mehtar, and Sapru fall under this group. These communities have historically been at the bottom of the social hierarchy, both in terms of access and outcomes.
Quota allocation: 1.0% - Group 2 – Backward
This includes Madiga and related sub-castes such as Mang, Jambuvulu, and Dakkal. Though somewhat better off than Group 1, they remain underrepresented and underserved.
Quota allocation: 6.5% - Group 3 – Relatively Less Backward
These are primarily Mala communities such as Adi Dravida, Holeya, and Valluvan, who are perceived to have cornered most of the benefits from affirmative action thus far.
Quota allocation: 7.5%
For context: If there are 200 government jobs reserved for SCs, 15 would now go to Malas, 13 to Madigas, and 2 to Rellis under the new system.
Why Is This Significant?
This isn’t just a bureaucratic reshuffling—it’s a structural shift aimed at correcting decades of inequity within historically marginalised groups. The principle behind sub-categorisation is simple yet powerful: all SCs are disadvantaged, but not equally so.
For years, communities like the Madigas and Rellis have argued that dominant SC sub-castes like Malas have disproportionately benefited from reservations in education, jobs, and politics. Activists like Manda Krishna Madiga, who have long fought for internal classification, see this move as a long-overdue victory for grassroots representation and justice.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Of course, not everyone is cheering. Critics argue that breaking up quotas might sow division within SC communities or dilute their collective bargaining power. There are also legal and logistical hurdles to overcome—from judicial scrutiny to implementation bottlenecks in local administration.
Yet supporters counter that failing to acknowledge internal disparities only perpetuates structural injustice. The policy, they say, doesn’t reduce the pie—it redistributes it more fairly.
What Lies Ahead?
This move by Andhra Pradesh could act as a bellwether for other states grappling with similar caste dynamics. The ripple effect may even reach the national level, reigniting debates over the structure and purpose of reservations in India’s complex social hierarchy.
More importantly, it opens up a crucial conversation: Is equality about equal treatment, or equitable opportunity?
The Social Welfare Minister, Dr. Dola Veeranjaneya Swamy, captured the intent succinctly: “The main objective of this ordinance is to ensure the integrated and equal advancement of all Scheduled Caste communities.”
If successful, Andhra’s experiment may very well redefine the contours of affirmative action in the 21st century.