According to the National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC), there has been a significant rise in student enrollment within the Scheduled Caste (SC) category and among minority females. The SC student enrollment increased by 44 percent, from 4.61 million in 2014-15 to 6.62 million in 2021-22. Similarly, minority female student enrollment witnessed a 42.3 percent increase, from 1.07 million in 2014-15 to 1.52 million in 2021-22.
NCBC Chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir highlighted the government’s efforts in upholding and advancing the constitutional rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The statement revealed that SC student enrollment grew by 44 percent and minority female student enrollment by 42.3 percent. Additionally, ST student enrollment increased by 65.2 percent. During the academic year 2020-21, 27 percent reservation for OBC students was introduced in Central Schools, leading to the admission of 34,133 OBC children. Similar reservations were implemented in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools, facilitating admissions for OBC students.
In higher education, there was a notable increase in admissions for OBC students. For MBBS admissions, there were 1,662 OBC students in 2021, 1,804 in 2022, and 2,090 in 2023. Similarly, PG Medical course admissions included 2,663 OBC students in 2021, 3,032 in 2022, and 3,322 in 2023.
The NCBC data also revealed significant growth in OBC student enrollment in central universities and Institutes of National Importance. Overall enrollment in higher education saw a rise from 34.2 million in 2014-15 to 41.4 million in 2020-21, reaching 43.3 million in 2021-22. Female enrollment increased from 15.7 million in 2014-15 to 20.7 million in 2021-22. OBC student enrollment surged by 45 percent, from 11.3 million in 2014-15 to 16.3 million in 2021-22, with female OBC enrollment increasing by 49.3 percent.
