Lok Sabha Question No. 416 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-02
Subject: SC/ST/OBC Students Enrolment in Private HEIs
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 416 ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026

## SC/ST/OBC Students Enrolment in Private HEIs

416. Dr. D Ravi Kumar:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed the current enrolment levels of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) students in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including Institutions of Eminence (IoEs), in light of recent All India  Survey  on  Higher  Education  (AISHE)  2022-23  data  indicating  persistent  underrepresentation of SC/ST students in private universities;

(b) if so, the details of seats allocated and actual enrolment of SC/ST/OBC students in private HEIs and IoEs that have received financial or policy support from the Government, institutionwise;

- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  monitoring,  disclosure  or  compliance mechanism linked to grants,  scholarships  or  IoE  status  to  ensure  adherence  to  reservation, equity and inclusion norms and if so, the details and the timelines thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (d): Education being in the Concurrent List, increasing participation of all communities in education is the responsibility of both the Central and State Governments. Various schemes/ projects/  programmes  run  by  the  Ministry  have  been  aligned  with  the  National  Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NEP 2020 aims to ensure that no child loses opportunity to learn and excel because of the circumstances of birth or background. This policy aims at bridging the social category  gaps  in  access,  participation,  and  learning  outcomes,  including  providing  greater access to women.

The  Government  has  notified the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission)  Act,  2006,  wherein  reservation  of  seats  in  Central  Educational  Institutions  is implemented, which is 15%, 7.5% and 27% of the annual permitted strength in each branch of study  or  faculty  for  Scheduled  Castes  (SCs),  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  and  Other  Backward Classes (OBCs)  respectively. Central Educational Institutions have also been issued instructions in January, 2019 for implementation of 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Horizontal reservation of 5% for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) is also provided. The  Central  Government  has  also  taken  various  measures  to  promote  higher  education among the students across the nation including women, such as fee reductions, establishment of more institutes, scholarships, priority access to national level scholarships to aid students with poor financial backgrounds to pursue their education. Government is implementing various Scholarships and Fellowships to promote access to higher education for students including students from socially disadvantaged groups for all

HEIs including eligible Private Institutions.

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