A parliamentary committee on the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will hold a key meeting on June 13 with officials from the Ministry of Education, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) to assess steps taken by these institutions to ensure OBC representation in student admissions and employment.
The committee, chaired by BJP MP Ganesh Singh, is particularly focused on understanding why minority institutions like AMU and Jamia do not have specific quotas for Muslim OBC communities. These institutions currently do not offer reservations based on socio-economic categories or religion in employment, despite a significant Muslim OBC population.
“These are minority institutions that do not provide quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. But the question the committee wants to ask is why they do not have a specific quota for Muslim OBCs,” a panel member told The Hindu.
AMU does not follow any reservation policy based on religion or socio-economic status in admissions or hiring, except for a preference given to students from AMU-run schools. Jamia Millia Islamia, meanwhile, follows a reservation policy notified in 2011, reserving 30% of seats for Muslim candidates—10% for Muslim women and 10% for Muslim OBCs and Scheduled Tribes. However, JMI does not extend these reservations to employment.
On April 2, 2025, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar stated in Parliament that Jamia does not implement the SC, ST, and OBC reservation policy in employment, citing its status as a minority institution. He also noted that the minority status of JMI is currently under judicial review in the Delhi High Court.
In addition to addressing reservation policies, the June 13 meeting will also evaluate broader welfare measures for OBC students and staff at both universities.
