**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3551, answered on August 11, 2025, addresses the implementation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in hostel allotment within Central Universities, including Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The question raised concerns that reservation policies were not being implemented in hostel allotments, potentially promoting social inequality and contradicting the government's commitment to inclusive education. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, responded that reservation in admissions, including OBC reservation in Central Educational Institutions, is governed by the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. To facilitate accommodation for OBC students, the University Grants Commission allocated ₹135 crores (non-recurring) to Central Universities and Deemed-to-be Universities under a capacity expansion plan, specifically for providing additional hostel facilities. The response indicates that the government acknowledges the need for OBC reservation in admissions and has taken steps to address hostel accommodation through financial allocation.
Key Entities Referenced
Banaras Hindu University: A central university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Other Backward Classes: A collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are educationally or socially disadvantaged.
Central Universities: Universities established or incorporated by or under a Central Act.
Reservation Policy: Government policy of reserving access to seats in educational institutions for backward classes.
Inclusive Education: Education that includes everyone, with non-discrimination.
Central Educational Institutions Reservation in Admission Act, 2006: An act of the Parliament of India to provide for the reservation in admissions in central educational institutions.
University Grants Commission: A statutory body established by the Indian Union government to coordinate, determine and maintain standards of higher education in India.
DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3551
ANSWERED ON 11/08/2025
Reservation for OBCs in Allotment of Hostels
3551. Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that reservation for students belonging to Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) has not been implemented in hostel allotment in most of the Central Universities of
the country including Banaras Hindu University (BHU);
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government agrees that not implementing the reservation policy in hostel
allotment promotes social inequality and contradicts the Government’s commitment to
‘inclusive education’ for the disadvantaged sections and if so, the details thereof;
(d) Whether the Government proposes to take any steps to implement constitutional
reservation for OBC students in hostel allotment; and
(e) if so, the details thereof including timeframe for its implementation and if not, the reasons
therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e) The reservation in admission including reservation for Other Backward Classes
(OBCs) in Central Educational Institutions is governed by the Central Educational Institutions
(Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. Accordingly, University Grants Commission allocated
a total of ₹ 135 crores (Non-Recurring) to the Central Universities and Deemed-to-be
Universities under capacity expansion plan, inter-alia, to provide additional accommodation of
hostels for OBC students.
*****