Reservation Statistics — National & State-wise Data
Real, current numbers — not a vague "reservation is high" claim. Here's exactly what percentage goes to which category, nationally and in the states that differ from the central formula.
National reservation breakdown (central government jobs & institutions)
| Category | Reservation % |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC, non-creamy-layer) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% |
| Total vertical reservation | 59.5% |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) — horizontal, cuts across all categories | 4% |
"Vertical" reservation (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) fills a share of every 100 seats; "horizontal" reservation (PwD, and in some states women/ex-servicemen) applies within each vertical category rather than adding to the total.
The 50% ceiling — and where it doesn't apply
The 59.5% national figure already exceeds the 50% ceiling the Supreme Court set in Indra Sawhney (1992) — this is possible because the 2022 Janhit Abhiyan judgment held that the ceiling does not automatically apply to the separate EWS category. Several states also exceed 50% independently:
| State | Total Reservation | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 69% | State law placed in the Constitution's Ninth Schedule since 1994 |
| Maharashtra (Maratha quota attempt) | Struck down | Held unconstitutional in Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil (2021) for breaching the 50% ceiling |
| Bihar (2023 quota law) | Struck down | Bihar raised reservation to 65%; the Patna High Court struck this down in 2023 for exceeding the ceiling |
Population data behind the percentages
SC and ST reservation percentages broadly track their Census-recorded population share — SCs at roughly 16.6% and STs at roughly 8.6% of India's population per the 2011 Census. OBC reservation of 27%, however, still rests on the Mandal Commission's 1980 estimate that OBCs made up around 52% of the population — a figure India has not officially re-verified nationally since, as the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) collected caste data but never fully released it.
Reservation Statistics — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total reservation percentage in India?
At the central government level, total vertical reservation is 59.5% — SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, and EWS 10%. A separate 4% horizontal reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) applies across categories and is not additional to the 59.5%.
What is the reservation percentage for SC, ST, OBC and EWS individually?
Nationally: Scheduled Castes (SC) get 15%, Scheduled Tribes (ST) get 7.5%, Other Backward Classes (OBC) get 27%, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) get 10% — a combined 59.5% at the central government level.
Which state has the highest reservation percentage?
Tamil Nadu has India's highest state-level reservation at 69%, covering SC, ST, and Backward/Most Backward Classes. It has stood above the 50% ceiling since 1994 because the relevant state law was placed in the Constitution's Ninth Schedule, which historically shielded it from certain judicial review.
Why do some states exceed the 50% reservation ceiling?
The 50% ceiling from Indra Sawhney (1992) applies as a general rule, but some states have exceeded it through laws placed in the Ninth Schedule (like Tamil Nadu) or through subsequent legislative attempts — several of which, like Maharashtra's Maratha quota and Bihar's 65% quota law, have been struck down in court for breaching the ceiling.
What population data is reservation based on?
SC and ST reservation percentages are broadly aligned with their Census-recorded population share (SCs around 16.6%, STs around 8.6%, per the 2011 Census). OBC reservation of 27%, however, is based on the Mandal Commission's 1980 estimate of roughly 52% OBC population — a figure that predates the most recent Census and has not been officially re-verified nationally since.
Is there an official caste census in India?
India's last full Census with caste data for all groups was in 1931. The 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) collected caste data but its detailed findings were never fully released. Some individual states, including Bihar, have since conducted their own state-level caste surveys.
