Lok Sabha Question No. 3083 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Admission of OBC Students in HEIs
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Girish Chandra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3083

ANSWERED ON-20/03/2023

## Admission of OBC Students in HEIs

## 3083.SHRI GIRISH CHANDRA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government  has  any  statistical data  regarding admission  of  students belonging to Other Backward Classes in higher educational institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, other research institutions during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof, institutions-wise; and

(c) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to encourage these students to seek admissions in the above institutes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  &  (b)  Yes  Sir,  the  Institution-wise  details  of  the  admission  of  Other  Backward Classes (OBC)  students  in  various  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  under  the  purview  of Ministry of Education during the last three years are available at https://www.education.gov.in/parl\_ques.

(c) The Government is committed for the implementation of the reservation policy of the Government  of  India.  In  this  regard,  The  Central  Educational  Institutions  (Reservation  in Admission)  Act,  2006  was  notified  in  January,  2007,  wherein  it  has  been  stipulated  that twenty  seven  percent  seats  shall  be  reserved  for  the  Other  Backward  Classes  (OBC)  in admission in Central Educational Institutions. The Government has issued instructions to the Higher Educational Institutions to ensure that reservation-related provisions of the Act passed by Parliament shall be implemented by all educational institutions in letter and spirit .

The Government has taken several steps to encourage the OBC students in Higher Education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) had been implementing the scheme of National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes (OBC) formulated and funded by Ministry of  Social  Justice  &  Empowerment  from  2014-15  to  30.09.2022.  Now,  the  scheme  is implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. UGC also provides concessions to  OBC  students  including  5  years  age  relaxation  and  fee  concession  in  Junior  Research Fellowship  (JRF)  National  Eligibility  Test  (NET),  relaxation  of  cut-off  marks  in  NET

qualifying  test  in  JRF  NET,  relaxation  of  5%  in  minimum  marks  in  Post  Graduation  for eligibility in appearing for the NET Examination.

In the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), a separate merit list of OBC candidates with different cutoff than general category students is prepared for filling the seats reserved. Further, complete fee waiver and 2/3rd fee waiver is provided to students of OBC category whose parental income is less than Rs 1 lakh and between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh respectively, subject  to  submission  of  valid  income  certificates.  The  Ministry  Of  Social  Justice  And Empowerment (M/o SJ&E) also has a scheme under which free coaching is provided to the students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and OBC categories.

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) provide relaxation in entrance exam (i.e. Combined Admission Test- CAT) score requirement for admission into the IIMs. Need based financial assistance is also provided to deserving students from OBC category.

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