Unfilled SC/ST/OBC Reserved Posts in Central Government – Key Details from Lok Sabha Reply
The issue of unfilled reserved posts for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) has remained a major concern in Central Government services. Responding to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 687 on 03 December 2025, the Government shared important updates on the current situation, backlog vacancies, corrective actions, and future recruitment measures.
In this article, we explain the Government’s official reply in clear and simple terms.
1. No Centralised Data on Group-wise Unfilled Reserved Posts
Although the question sought the total number of unfilled SC/ST/OBC reserved posts across all Ministries and Departments for Groups A, B, C, and D, the Government did not provide specific figures in the reply.
Instead, the Ministry clarified that vacancies occur and are filled as a continuous process, and the responsibility for identifying and clearing backlog lies with individual Ministries and Departments.
**2. Why Do Backlogs Continue?
Key Reasons Identified**
Despite constitutional provisions and clear instructions for timely recruitment, backlog vacancies still exist. The Ministry highlighted the following reasons:
- Difficulty in identifying backlog vacancies in some departments.
- Delays in recruitment processes due to administrative or procedural issues.
- Lack of timely reporting or follow-up by certain Ministries.
- Ineffective implementation of reservation policies at some levels.
To address these issues, the Government has directed every Ministry to take corrective steps.
3. Mandatory In-House Committees to Identify and Clear Backlog Vacancies
Every Central Government Ministry/Department has been instructed to:
- Constitute an In-House Committee
This committee is responsible for:- Identifying backlog reserved vacancies
- Studying the root causes
- Removing procedural barriers
- Ensuring vacancies are filled through Special Recruitment Drives
These committees play a crucial role in monitoring compliance and preventing future accumulation of backlog.
4. Appointment of Liaison Officers & Special Reservation Cells
To strengthen accountability, the Government has directed all Ministries to:
- Appoint a Liaison Officer (at least at Deputy Secretary rank or above)
Their role is to ensure proper implementation of all reservation-related instructions. - Set up a Special Reservation Cell
This cell works directly under the Liaison Officer to assist in:- Monitoring recruitment
- Ensuring reservation policies are followed
- Checking data accuracy
- Supporting backlog clearance
This structure helps bring uniformity and transparency across departments.
5. Government’s Actions to Improve Compliance
The Ministry confirmed that:
- Instructions on reservation compliance have been reiterated from time to time.
- Capacity-building programmes have been conducted to train officials responsible for implementing reservation rules.
- Continuous follow-up has been undertaken to ensure that backlog vacancies are identified and filled promptly.
6. Over 4.80 Lakh Backlog Vacancies Filled Since 2016
The Government highlighted a major achievement:
More than 4.80 lakh backlog reserved vacancies have been filled since 2016.
This indicates significant progress under special recruitment efforts and improved policy implementation.
7. Targeted Recruitment Drives – Government’s Stand
While the reply does not announce any new targeted recruitment campaign, the Government confirmed that:
- Special Recruitment Drives are already being used to fill backlog SC/ST/OBC posts.
- Ministries are expected to regularly undertake such drives as part of ongoing recruitment operations.
Thus, the focus is on continuous clearing of backlog rather than launching a separate large-scale drive at this stage.
Conclusion
The Government’s reply highlights a clear framework for addressing backlog vacancies reserved for SC/ST/OBC communities. Although no consolidated Ministry-wise or Group-wise vacancy data was provided, the measures explained—such as In-House Committees, Liaison Officers, Reservation Cells, and repeated instructions—show the Government’s commitment to improving representation.
With 4.80 lakh backlog vacancies already filled since 2016, the efforts have resulted in significant progress. Continued monitoring and targeted recruitment through Special Drives are expected to further strengthen representation of SC/ST/OBC candidates in Central Government services.