Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Scope of Reservation
Reservation for SC/ST & OBCs in Central Govt Services - Scope of Reservation
DoPT Estsblishment (Reservation)
Brochure on Reservation For SC, ST and Other Backward Classes in Services (PART-I)
Scope of Reservation
CHAPTER -2
SCOPE OF RESERVATION
Quantum of Reservation in Direct Recruitment
2.1 There shall be a reservation of 15 per cent for the members of the Scheduled Castes,
7.5 per cent for the members of the Scheduled Tribes and 27 per cent for the members of the Other
Backward Classes in the matter of appointment by direct recruitment to civil posts and civil services
on all India basis by open competition.[36011/33/1981-Estt.(SCT) 5/10/1981]
2.2 There shall be a reservation of 16.66 per cent for the members of the Scheduled Castes, 7.5
per cent for the members of the Scheduled Tribes and 25.84 per cent for the members of the Other
Backward Classes in the matter of appointment by direct recruitment to civil posts and civil services
on all India basis otherwise than by open competition.
2.3 Except in Delhi, reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in case of direct
recruitment to Group C and Group D posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or a region
is generally fixed on the basis of proportion of their population in the respective States/UTs.
Reservation for Other Backward Classes in such cases is fixed keeping in view the proportion of
their population in the respective States/UTs subject to a limit of 27% and total reservation for SCs,
STs and OBCs should not exceed 50%. Quantum of reservation fixed for SCs, STs and OBCs in
such cases is indicated below [36017/2/2004-Estt.(Res) dated 5/7/2005]:
the percentages of reservation for SCs and STs is generally fixed on the basis of the proportion of
SCs and STs in the respective zones/circles/regions and reservation for OBCs is fixed keeping in
view their proportion in the population of the respective zones/circles/regions subject to a limit of
27% and total reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs should not exceed 50%.
Illustration: Suppose direct recruitment to a Group C post in an organization is made
on the regional basis for the region consisting of the 8 States of the North East
namely, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura and Sikkim. Total population of these States and population of the Scheduled
13 Castes and Scheduled Tribes in these States as per Census 2001 is 38,857,269;
2,486,474, and 10,465,898 respectively. Thus, the proportion of Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes in the region is 6.39% and 26.93%. Estimated population of
Other Backward Classes in the region is more than 27% of the total population of the
region. Keeping all aspects in view, percentage of reservation for Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes for the region may be fixed as 6%,
27% and 17% respectively.
Note 1: The expression 'by open competition' means all recruitments by Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) whether through written examination or by interview or by both; and
recruitments made by other authorities including Staff Selection Commission or any other
appointing authority through written competitive examination or tests (but not by interview alone).
Any recruitment not made by the UPSC or not made through written competitive test held by any
other authority would mean direct recruitment otherwise than by open competition.
Note 2: In case of recruitment on local/regional/zonal/circle basis, SC/ST/OBC candidates not
belonging to the concerned locality/region/ State/ zone/ circle shall also be eligible to get the benefit
of reservation.
2.5 The members of the Other Backward Classes who fall in creamy layer shall not get the
benefit of reservation. Criterion for determining creamy layer status amongst Other Backward
Classes is given in the Annexure to this Chapter.
Quantum of Reservation in Promotion
2.6 Reservation to the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be
provided in the matter of promotion when promotion is made:
(a) through Limited Departmental Competitive Examination in Group B, Group C and
Group D posts;
(b) by selection from Group B post to a Group A post or in Group B, Group C and Group D
posts; and
(c) by non-selection in Group A, Group B, Group C and Group D posts.
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2.7 Reservation in all the above cases shall be given at the rate of 15 per cent for the Scheduled
Castes and 7.5 per cent for the Scheduled Tribes. However, reservation in promotion is not given in
the grades in which the element of direct recruitment, if any, exceeds 75 per cent [36012/17/88-
Estt.(SCT) dated 25/4/1989].
Reservation in Scientific and Technical Posts
2.8 Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes apply to
appointments made to "scientific and technical" posts up to and including the lowest grade of Group
A in the respective services.
2.9 Such ‘scientific and technical’ posts which satisfy all the following conditions can be
exempted from the purview of the reservation orders by the Ministries/Departments:
(i) The posts should be in grades above the lowest grade in Group A of the service
concerned.
(ii) They should be classified as 'scientific or technical' in terms of Cabinet Secretariat
(Department of Cabinet Affairs) [O.M. No. 85/11/CF-61(1) dated 28-12-1961]
according to which scientific and technical posts for which qualification in the natural
sciences or exact sciences or applied sciences or in technology are prescribed and the
incumbents of which have to use that knowledge in the discharge of their duties.
(iii) The posts should be 'for conducting research' or 'for organizing, guiding and directing
research’.
2.10 Orders of the Minister concerned should be obtained before exempting any posts satisfying
the above conditions from the purview of the scheme of reservation.
2.11 In the case of scientific and technical posts required for research up to and inclusive of
lowest grade of Group A of a service which are not exempt from the purview of reservation orders,
reservation should be provided for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes
as per the scheme of reservations, except that:
(i) reserved vacancies in such posts need be advertised only once and not twice;
(ii) In the event of non-availability of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, vacancies in such posts may be dereserved
by the administrative Ministry/Department concerned. However, the
National Commission for Scheduled Castes or the National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes or the National Commission for Backward Classes, as the case may
be, and the Department of Personnel and Training should be informed about the dereservation
together with the details and reasons necessitating de-reservation.
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[O.M.No.9/2/73-Estt(SCT) dated 23/06/75 and O.M.No.36012/27/1994-Estt(SCT) dated
13/5/1994]
Reservation in Posts of Industrial Workers
2.12 The industrial establishments of the Government of India and the posts and grades in such
establishments, whether these have been classified as group A, B, C and D or not, are covered by the
scheme of reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
[O.M.No.8/7/1974-Estt.(SCT) dated 22/08/1975]
Reservation in Work-Charged Posts
2.13 The principle of reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward
Classes should generally be suitably applied to the extent possible, to work-charged posts also
except those required for emergencies like flood relief work, accident restoration and relief etc. The
percentages of reservation in such appointments may correspond to what is applicable to Group C
and Group D posts. [O.M.No.36021/9/1976-Estt.(SCT) dated 10/02/1977]
Reservation in Appointments of Daily Rated Staff
2.14 While it may not be practical to apply the reservation orders in toto in respect of daily rated
staff, it should be ensured that persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
Other Backward Classes are recruited in such manner as their overall representation does not go
below the prescribed percentage of reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
Other Backward Classes respectively. [O.M.No.36011/18/81-Estt.(SCT) dated 16/07/1981]
Reservation in Appointments of Casual Workers to Regular Posts
2.15 Appointment of casual workers against regular posts will be a case of direct recruitment.
Hence all statutory requirements relating to filling up of posts by direct recruitment should be
followed while regularizing the services of casual workers. General orders relating to reservation
for persons belonging to SCs, STs and OBCs will be applicable in cases relating to regularization of
casual workers. Vacancies meant for these categories of persons should be filled up by casual
workers of respective reserved categories and the balance, if any, may be filled up by outsiders
belonging to these categories, who are not casual workers. Casual workers, who do not belong to the
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reserved categories, can be appointed against unreserved vacancies only. O.M.No.49014/12/1988-
Estt( C ) dated 22/08/1988]
Reservation in Ad-hoc Promotions
2.16 As a matter of basic approach, ad-hoc promotions should be avoided.. However, if ad-hoc
promotions are to be made in exceptional circumstances, such as during pendency of court cases,
protracted seniority disputes, non-framing of recruitment rules, unforeseen delay in direct
recruitment or convening of DPCs for reasons beyond the control of the appointing authority etc.,
following guidelines may be followed on every occasion when ad-hoc promotions are resorted to so
as to ensure that the claims of eligible officers belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
are also duly considered:
(i) In cases where reservation orders for SCs and STs are applicable, the number of
vacancies falling to the share of SCs and STs would be the same if the vacancies
were to be filled on regular basis.
(ii) Since ad-hoc promotions are made on the basis of non-selection, all the Scheduled
Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates covered in the relevant seniority list within the
total number of such vacancies against which ad-hoc promotions are to be made,
should be considered in the order of their general seniority as per the gradation list,
on the principle of seniority-cum-fitness and if they are not adjudged unfit, they
should all be promoted on ad-hoc basis.
(iii) If the number of SC/ST candidates found fit within the range of actual vacancies is
less than the number of vacancies identified as falling to their share if the vacancies
were filled on a regular basis, additional SC/ST candidates to the extent required
should be located by going down the seniority list, provided they are eligible and
found fit for such ad-hoc appointment.
(iv) All ad-hoc appointees have to be replaced by regular incumbents at the earliest
opportunity. When regular promotions are made subsequently, reversion of the adhoc
appointees should take place strictly in the reverse order of seniority, the juniormost
candidate being reverted first. No special concessions are to be given to SC/ST
candidates at the time of such reversion.
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(v) There is no need for maintaining any separate formal register or roster register for adhoc
promotions. The concept of de-reservation, carrying forward of reservation etc.
will also not be applicable in the case of ad-hoc appointments. However, a simple
register called Ad-hoc Promotions Register may be maintained for different
categories of posts for which ad-hoc appointments are made to facilitate a record
being kept of the ad-hoc appointments and for ensuring reversion in the proper order
on regular promotions being made to the posts in question.
[No. 36011/14/83-Estt.(SCT) dated 30-4-1983 and O.M. No.36011/13/83-Estt.(SCT) dated
30/09/1983]
Reservation in case of a Single Vacancy
2.17 In cases where only one vacancy occurs in the initial recruitment year and it, according to the
scheme of reservation, is reserved for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or OBCs, it should be
treated as unreserved and filled accordingly and the reservation should be carried forward to
subsequent recruitment year. In the subsequent recruitment year, even if there is only one vacancy, it
should be treated as “reserved” against the carried forward reservation from the initial recruitment
year, and a Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe/OBC candidate, if available, should be appointed in
that vacancy, although it may happen to be the only vacancy in that recruitment year. This provision
applies to direct recruitment as well as promotion. When the vacancy is treated as reserved, it shall
be filled up as per the procedure prescribed for filling up of reserved vacancies.[ 36011/39/81-
Estt.(SCT) dated 30/11/1981]
Reservation in PSUs, Autonomous Bodies etc
2.18 Instructions contained in this Compendium relate to reservation for Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in posts/services under the Government of India.
The Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory and Semi-Government Bodies, Autonomous
Bodies/Institutions including Municipal Corporations, Cooperative Institutions, Universities etc.
under the control of the Government, may make reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes
and Other Backward Classes in their services on the lines of the reservations in services under
Government. The Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public
Enterprises may arrange for issue of suitable directives to the various public sector undertakings,
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through the administrative Ministries concerned for making reservations for Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in their services. The Ministries/Departments should
take suitable action to provide for reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other
Backward Classes in the services of the autonomous bodies/institutions which are receiving grantsin-aid
from the Government of India by making suitable provision in the relevant statutes or in the
Articles of Association of the respective bodies.[O.M.No.39/40/74(SCT)(I) dated 30/09/1974 ]
Reservation in Voluntary Agencies
2.19 The Ministries/Departments should insist as a pre-condition to the sanction of grants-in-aid
from Central Government to a non-Government organizations/ voluntary agency etc. that it shall
provide reservation to the extent of 15% to SCs, 7.5% to STs and 27% to OBCs in case of direct
recruitment on all India basis and as shown in the table under Para 2.1 (c) in case of direct
recruitment to posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or region where:
(a) The recipient body employs more than 20 persons on a regular basis and at least 50
percent of its recurring expenditure is met from grants-in-aid from the Central
Government; and
(b) The body is a registered society or a cooperative institution and is in receipt of a
general purpose annual grants-in-aid of Rs.2lakh and above from the Consolidated
Fund of India.
2.20 A clause providing for reservations in the services under the voluntary agencies should be
included in the terms and conditions under which such voluntary agencies /organizations etc. are
given grants-in-aid by Government, somewhat on the following lines:
“………..(Name of Organization/ Agency etc.) agrees to make reservations for
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in the
posts/services under its control on the lines indicated by the Government of India.”
2.21 While sanctioning grants-in-aid to various voluntary agencies the progress made by such
agencies in employing Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class candidates in
their services should be kept in view by the administrative Ministries/Departments. The voluntary
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agencies etc. should be informed that the progress in respect to the employment by them of
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs in the services under them would be taken into
account by Government while sanctioning future grants-in-aid to them.[O.M.No.27/12/73-
Estt.SCT) dated 7/10/1974]
Non-Applicability of Reservation
2.22 Reservations do not apply to:
(i) Temporary appointments of less than 45 days duration; [O.M.No.27/4/67(II)-
Estt.(SCT) dated 24/09/1968]
(ii) Work-charged posts which are required for emergencies like flood relief work,
accident restoration and relief etc. [36021/9/76-Estt.(SCT) 10/2/1977]
(iii) Promotions by selection method from a Group ‘A’ post to another Group ‘A’ post.[
36028/21/7/2003-Estt.(SCT) dated 29/01/2004]
(iv) Appointments to Scientific and Technical posts which are above the lowest rung of
Group ‘A’.[O.M.No.36012/27/1994-Estt(SCT) dated 13/05/1994
(v) Deputation/Absorption.[O.M.No.36012/7/77-Estt(SCT) dated 21/01/1978]
(vi) Single post cadres
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