Lok Sabha Question No. 1153 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Reservation for SC/OBC in Higher Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1153 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2016

## Reservation for SC/OBC in Higher Education

## †1153. SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a provision of fifty percent marks for the applicants of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes category for National Eligibility Test (NET)/State Eligibility Test (SET) examination but the eligibility criteria are right for direct  recruitment  on  the  posts  of  teachers  in  case  of  the  applicants  of  the  said categories in fifty five percent;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide benefit to the candidates belonging to scheduled  castes,  scheduled  tribes  and  other  backward  classes  category  by  issuing direction  for  making  the  provision  of  50%  marks  in  both  the  cases  of  NET/  SET examination  and  direct  recruitment  on  the  posts  of  teachers  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  would  issue  directions  for  selection of  candidates belonging to the other backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the services under articles 16(4) and 15(4) of the Constitution and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to increase the participation of said categories of candidates in cultural institutions and also in Government services in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories, who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master's degree  or equivalent examination  from universities/ institutions, recognized by the UGC, are eligible for appearing in the National Eligibility Test (NET). The UGC (Minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in  universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education)  (4 th Amendment),  Regulations,  2016  prescribe  5%  relaxation  in  minimum eligibility marks of 55% marks for candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories for direct recruitment to teaching positions. The regulations are available at http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/170658.pdf .

(d):    The  Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  (DOPT)  has  informed  that  in  order  to increase the representation of SC/ST/OBC communities in posts and services under the Central Government, various concessions/ relaxations are provided in direct recruitment,  apart  from  prescribing  reservations  for  candidates  belonging  to  these categories.  For  SC/ST  candidates,  in  case  of  promotion  by  selection,  the  zone  of consideration  is  extended  up  to  five  times  the  number  of  vacancies.  In  case  suitable candidates  are  not  available  within  the  normal  zone  of  consideration  for  filling  up  of reserved vacancies, minimum qualifying marks/standards of evaluations are relaxable. Also, in such cases, the upper age limit is relaxable by five years where upper age limit for promotion is prescribed not more than 50 years. The DOPT has further informed that in case of direct recruitment, OBCs get a relaxation of three years in the upper age limit. There is a ban on de-reservation of reserved vacancies of SC, ST and OBC in direct recruitment.  The limit of 50% of reservation does not apply while filling up of backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs. The DOPT has also informed that special recruitment drives have been held to fill up backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The UGC has issued instructions from time to time to all the Universities/Institutions Deemed  to  be  Universities (receiving grant-in-aid from the public fund) for (i) implementation  of  SC/ST/OBC  reservation  policy  (ii)  display  of  reservation  roster  on University website and (iii) filling up of remaining identified backlog vacancies of these categories in teaching and non-teaching posts.

In  accordance  with  article 15(4)  of  the  Constitution,  the  Central  Educational Institutions  (CEIs)  (Reservation  in  Admission)  Act,  2006  stipulates  reservation  in admissions for the SC/ST/OBCs in each branch of study or faculty in certain CEIs as prescribed under the Act.

(e):  The  Ministry  of  Culture  has  informed  that  the  Government  policies  relating  to recruitment of candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories are being adhered to while filling up the vacant posts in various institutions.

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