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Kerala Seeks to Expand SEBC List, Improve Backward Classes Support
17 Aug
Summary
- Report suggests adding 28 OBC communities to Kerala's SEBC list
- Aims to provide reservation benefits for education to more backward groups
- Recommends creating Backward Classes promoter roles and a monitoring cell

In August 2025, the Kerala government's Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms released a report with recommendations to improve support for the state's backward classes. The key proposal is to revise the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) list by adding 28 Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities that are currently excluded.
The report notes that while Kerala's OBC list has 88 communities, the SEBC list used for education reservations is based on a 1965 commission report and does not include these 28 groups. This means they are denied reservation benefits for state-run higher education courses, despite being financially and educationally backward.
To address this gap, the report suggests incorporating the 28 OBC communities into the SEBC list. This would provide more equitable access to educational opportunities for students from these marginalized groups.
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Additionally, the report recommends strengthening the Backward Classes Development Department (BCDD). It proposes appointing Backward Classes promoters in all 78 taluks to expand the department's grassroots reach. The report also calls for creating a Planning and Monitoring Cell to oversee the progress of BCDD schemes and projects.
These measures aim to improve the overall functioning and service delivery of the BCDD, ensuring it can better support Kerala's socially and economically disadvantaged communities.