Gautam noted last year’s Parliamentary committee found minimal SC, ST, and OBC representation in private institutions. Bhuria accused the BJP of ignoring reservations and gradually privatizing education, undermining social equality
New Delhi
The Congress on Friday demanded that the government introduce a law in the Winter session of Parliament to implement Article 15(5), which provides reservation for SC, ST, and OBC students in private educational institutions. Party leaders cited a Parliamentary committee report highlighting severe underrepresentation of these communities in private universities.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Adivasi Congress chief Vikrant Bhuria and OBC department head Anil Jaihind, Congress SC Department chief Rajendra Pal Gautam said the number of private educational institutions in India has grown, but students from SC, ST, and OBC communities often cannot access them due to lack of reservation and financial constraints. He noted that the UPA government had passed a law providing such reservations, which was upheld by the courts in 2008, 2011, and again by the Supreme Court in 2014.
Gautam added that a Parliamentary committee last year found only 0.89% of students from SCs, 0.53% from STs, and 11.16% from OBCs in private institutions. Bhuria criticized the BJP government, alleging it is undermining social equality by neglecting reservation policies and gradually privatizing education.
Jaihind echoed these concerns, stating that the Modi government has failed to implement the law for 11 years, causing the OBC community to suffer, including the lack of revision of the creamy layer since 2017. The leaders also cited the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education’s August 20, 2025, report, which recommended enacting legislation to enforce Article 15(5).
Recalling its 2024 Lok Sabha manifesto commitment, the Congress reiterated its demand that the Modi government take immediate action and introduce the law in the Winter session to ensure SC, ST, and OBC students receive their rightful access to private educational institutions.