Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to issue an ordinance providing for sub-categorisation to Scheduled Castes (SCs).

The main objective of the ordinance is to ensure holistic development of SCs with equality, according to a note issued by the State Government. 

The 59 scheduled castes in the State have been divided into three categories based on population, backwardness and social equality. The first group, comprising 12 castes, will have one per cent reservation, and the second with 18 SCs, will have 6.5 per cent reservations. 

The 29 SCs in the third group will receive 7.5 per cent reservation. The proposed ordinance, which is expected to be issued by the Governor soon, will have the complete details of the castes in each of the groups and will be implemented in 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh. 

The State Government will follow a 200-points roster for the implementation of the sub-categorisation of the SCs. 

Small minerals policy

The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, also approved Andhra Pradesh Minor Minerals Policy 2025, a proposal to convert Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation into a public company subsequent to an approval given by the Cabinet last month for issue of ₹9,000 crore bonds by APMDC.

Other decisions of the Cabinet included approval to allocate 21.16 acres of land in the IT Hill 3 zone in Visakhapatnam for TCS to set up a campus with Rs 1370 crore to create employment to 12,000 and empowering AP CRDA for taking up construction works for the state assembly and high court in Amaravati.

Published on April 15, 2025