In a landmark decision, the Odisha government on Saturday (April 4, 2026) enhanced the reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students and introduced a quota for the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) in medical and technical education. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar. “While the quota for the ST students is raised from 12% to 22.50%, it has been enhanced from 8% to 16.25% for SCs. The state government has introduced an 11.25% quota for OBC students, who are known as SEBC in Odisha,” Mr. Majhi told reporters after the meeting. He said this new reservation system will be implemented across universities, their affiliated colleges and educational institutions, ITIs and polytechnics in the state in the fields of engineering, technology, management, computer applications, medicine, surgery, dental, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, psychiatry, ayurveda, homeopathy, agriculture and allied sciences, architecture, planning and cinematic arts. This new reservation system will also be implemented in awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees at the undergraduate and postgraduate …