🇮🇳 18 August 2026 — Dalit • Adivasi • SC/ST • Buddhist • Ambedkar • SC/ST Atrocities News

I searched specifically for 18 August 2026 reports. A caution is necessary: there are not 5–10 genuinely verified stories for every state today. I will not pad the bulletin with old or unverified reports. The items below are the developments I could substantiate from current reporting; where a report concerns an allegation, I label it as such.

1. Madhya Pradesh — Adivasi health initiative

English: In Balaghat's Naxal-affected Birsa block, doctors reached tribal villages where residents had previously been reluctant or prevented from accessing hospitals. Health teams reportedly treated and discharged 125 children, covering 980 households across 10 villages. �

Navbharat Times

हिन्दी: बालाघाट के नक्सल प्रभावित बिरसा ब्लॉक में डॉक्टर पहली बार कई आदिवासी गांवों तक पहुंचे। स्वास्थ्य टीमों ने 125 बच्चों का उपचार किया और 10 गांवों के 980 घरों को स्वास्थ्य निगरानी में शामिल किया। �

Navbharat Times

తెలుగు: మధ్యప్రదేశ్‌లోని బాలాఘాట్ బిర్సా బ్లాక్‌లోని ఆదివాసీ గ్రామాలకు వైద్య బృందాలు చేరాయి. 125 మంది పిల్లలకు చికిత్స అందించి, 10 గ్రామాల్లోని 980 కుటుంబాలను ఆరోగ్య పర్యవేక్షణలోకి తీసుకున్నారు. �

Navbharat Times

தமிழ்: மத்தியப் பிரதேசத்தின் பாலாகாட் பிர்சா பகுதியில் உள்ள பழங்குடியினர் கிராமங்களுக்கு மருத்துவக் குழுக்கள் சென்றன. 125 குழந்தைகளுக்கு சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்பட்டு, 10 கிராமங்களில் 980 குடும்பங்கள் சுகாதார கண்காணிப்பில் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டன. �

Navbharat Times

ಕನ್ನಡ: ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಬಾಲಾಘಾಟ್‌ನ ಬಿರ್ಸಾ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಗ್ರಾಮಗಳಿಗೆ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ತಂಡಗಳು ತಲುಪಿದವು. 125 ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, 10 ಗ್ರಾಮಗಳ 980 ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳನ್ನು ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಮೇಲ್ವಿಚಾರಣೆಗೆ ಒಳಪಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. �

Navbharat Times

2. Rajasthan — Adivasi political representation

English: Udaipur MP Manna Lal Rawat has been appointed national president of the BJP's ST Morcha. The appointment has been reported in the context of strengthening the party's outreach among tribal communities in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. �

Navbharat Times

हिन्दी: उदयपुर के सांसद मन्ना लाल रावत को भाजपा के ST मोर्चा का राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष नियुक्त किया गया है। यह नियुक्ति राजस्थान, गुजरात और मध्य प्रदेश के आदिवासी क्षेत्रों में राजनीतिक पहुंच मजबूत करने के संदर्भ में देखी जा रही है। �

Navbharat Times

తెలుగు: ఉదయ్‌పూర్ ఎంపీ మన్నా లాల్ రావత్‌ను బీజేపీ ST మోర్చా జాతీయ అధ్యక్షుడిగా నియమించింది. రాజస్థాన్, గుజరాత్, మధ్యప్రదేశ్ ఆదివాసీ ప్రాంతాల్లో రాజకీయ ప్రాతినిధ్యాన్ని పెంచే వ్యూహంలో భాగంగా ఈ నియామకం కనిపిస్తోంది. �

Navbharat Times

தமிழ்: உதய்ப்பூர் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் மன்னா லால் ராவத் பாஜக ST மோர்ச்சாவின் தேசியத் தலைவராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார். ராஜஸ்தான், குஜராத், மத்தியப் பிரதேச பழங்குடியினர் பகுதிகளில் அரசியல் தொடர்பை வலுப்படுத்தும் முயற்சியாக இது பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. �

Navbharat Times

ಕನ್ನಡ: ಉದಯಪುರ ಸಂಸದ ಮನ್ನಾ ಲಾಲ್ ರಾವತ್ ಅವರನ್ನು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ST ಮೋರ್ಚಾದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರನ್ನಾಗಿ ನೇಮಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ರಾಜಸ್ಥಾನ, ಗುಜರಾತ್ ಮತ್ತು ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಆದಿವಾಸಿ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಸಂಪರ್ಕ ಬಲಪಡಿಸುವ ಉದ್ದೇಶದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಈ ನೇಮಕಾತಿಯನ್ನು ನೋಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. �

Navbharat Times

3. Maharashtra — SC reservation sub-classification

English: The proposed sub-classification of Maharashtra's SC reservation remains a major Ambedkarite/SC political issue. Anandraj Ambedkar has warned of an Assembly gherao against the proposal, arguing that dividing the SC quota could create divisions among SC communities. �

The Times of India

हिन्दी: महाराष्ट्र में SC आरक्षण के उप-वर्गीकरण का मुद्दा प्रमुख बना हुआ है। आनंद राज आंबेडकर ने प्रस्ताव के विरोध में विधानसभा घेराव की चेतावनी दी है और कहा है कि इससे SC समुदायों में विभाजन हो सकता है। �

The Times of India

తెలుగు: మహారాష్ట్రలో SC రిజర్వేషన్ ఉపవర్గీకరణ అంశం కీలకంగా కొనసాగుతోంది. ఆనందరాజ్ అంబేడ్కర్ దీనికి వ్యతిరేకంగా అసెంబ్లీ ముట్టడి హెచ్చరిక చేశారు. �

The Times of India

தமிழ்: மகாராஷ்டிராவில் SC இடஒதுக்கீடு உள்வகைப்பாடு முக்கிய பிரச்சினையாக உள்ளது. ஆனந்த்ராஜ் அம்பேத்கர் இதற்கு எதிராக சட்டமன்ற முற்றுகை நடத்தப்படும் என எச்சரித்துள்ளார். �

The Times of India

ಕನ್ನಡ: ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ SC ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಒಳವರ್ಗೀಕರಣ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಆನಂದರಾಜ್ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಇದರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆ ಮುತ್ತಿಗೆ ನಡೆಸುವ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. �

The Times of India

4. Maharashtra / National — Caste Census

English: The 2027 Census preparations have included questions concerning caste, including SC/ST and other caste categories. This is particularly significant for reservation, representation and socio-economic planning. The current reporting says this would be the first caste enumeration covering all castes in independent India's Census. �

Maharashtra Times

हिन्दी: 2027 की जनगणना की तैयारियों में जाति संबंधी प्रश्न शामिल किए गए हैं, जिनमें SC/ST और अन्य जातियों की जानकारी भी होगी। इसका आरक्षण, प्रतिनिधित्व और सामाजिक-आर्थिक नीति पर महत्वपूर्ण प्रभाव हो सकता है। �

Maharashtra Times

తెలుగు: 2027 జనగణనలో కుల వివరాలకు సంబంధించిన ప్రశ్నలు చేర్చబడ్డాయి. SC/STతో పాటు ఇతర కులాల వివరాలు కూడా నమోదు చేయనున్నట్లు తాజా నివేదికలు చెబుతున్నాయి. �

Maharashtra Times

தமிழ்: 2027 மக்கள் தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பில் சாதி தொடர்பான கேள்விகள் சேர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. SC/ST மற்றும் பிற சாதிகளின் தகவல்களும் பதிவு செய்யப்பட உள்ளன. �

Maharashtra Times

ಕನ್ನಡ: 2027ರ ಜನಗಣತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜಾತಿ ಕುರಿತ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಸೇರಿಸಲಾಗಿವೆ. SC/ST ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಇತರ ಜಾತಿಗಳ ಮಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನೂ ದಾಖಲಿಸುವುದಾಗಿ ವರದಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. �

Maharashtra Times

5. Tamil Nadu — SC/ST Sub-Plan

English: A report published on 17 August says Tamil Nadu has given legal backing to its SC/ST Sub-Plan, describing it as a significant development after decades of demands for stronger protection of SC/ST allocations. �

The New Indian Express

हिन्दी: तमिलनाडु में SC/ST सब-प्लान को कानूनी आधार देने की खबर 17 अगस्त को प्रकाशित हुई। इसे SC/ST के लिए बजट आवंटन की सुरक्षा की दिशा में महत्वपूर्ण कदम बताया गया है। �

The New Indian Express

తెలుగు: తమిళనాడులో SC/ST సబ్-ప్లాన్‌కు చట్టపరమైన బలం కల్పించే పరిణామం వెలుగులోకి వచ్చింది. SC/ST నిధుల రక్షణకు ఇది ముఖ్యమైన చర్యగా పేర్కొంటున్నారు. �

The New Indian Express

தமிழ்: தமிழ்நாட்டில் SC/ST துணைத் திட்டத்திற்கு சட்டபூர்வ ஆதரவு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக செய்தி வெளியாகியுள்ளது. SC/ST நிதி ஒதுக்கீடுகளைப் பாதுகாக்கும் முக்கிய நடவடிக்கையாக இது பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. �

The New Indian Express

ಕನ್ನಡ: ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ SC/ST ಉಪಯೋಜನೆಗೆ ಕಾನೂನುಬದ್ಧ ಬೆಂಬಲ ದೊರೆತಿರುವ ಕುರಿತು ವರದಿ ಬಂದಿದೆ. SC/ST ಅನುದಾನಗಳ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಗೆ ಇದು ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. �

The New Indian Express

6. Kerala — Dalit scholar

English: A Dalit scholar at Malayalam University has alleged caste discrimination. A protest over the allegations is expected to intensify. These are allegations, not a judicial finding.

हिन्दी: मलयालम विश्वविद्यालय के एक दलित शोधार्थी ने जातिगत भेदभाव के आरोप लगाए हैं। इन आरोपों को लेकर विरोध तेज होने की संभावना है। ये आरोप हैं, न्यायिक रूप से सिद्ध तथ्य नहीं।

తెలుగు: మలయాళం విశ్వవిద్యాలయానికి చెందిన దళిత పరిశోధకుడు కుల వివక్ష ఆరోపణలు చేశారు. దీనిపై నిరసనలు పెరిగే అవకాశం ఉంది. ఇవి ఆరోపణలు మాత్రమే; న్యాయపరంగా నిర్ధారిత విషయాలు కావు.

தமிழ்: மலையாளப் பல்கலைக்கழக தலித் ஆய்வாளர் ஒருவர் சாதி பாகுபாடு குறித்த குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை முன்வைத்துள்ளார். இதையடுத்து போராட்டம் தீவிரமடையலாம். இவை குற்றச்சாட்டுகள் மட்டுமே; நீதிமன்றத்தால் நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டவை அல்ல.

ಕನ್ನಡ: ಮಲಯಾಳಂ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ದಲಿತ ಸಂಶೋಧಕರು ಜಾತಿ ತಾರತಮ್ಯದ ಆರೋಪ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ತೀವ್ರಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಯಿದೆ. ಇವು ಆರೋಪಗಳು ಮಾತ್ರ; ನ್ಯಾಯಾಲಯದಿಂದ ಸಾಬೀತಾದ ವಿಷಯಗಳಲ್ಲ.

7. National — SC/ST atrocity law

English: A recent national policy discussion concerns strengthening the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A current CJP review published on 7 August notes continuing caste atrocities and examines gaps between the law's protections and actual access to justice. �

CJP

हिन्दी: राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर SC/ST (अत्याचार निवारण) अधिनियम, 1989 के प्रभावी क्रियान्वयन का मुद्दा चर्चा में है। हालिया समीक्षा में कानून और जमीनी स्तर पर न्याय मिलने के बीच मौजूद अंतर को रेखांकित किया गया है। �

CJP

తెలుగు: జాతీయ స్థాయిలో SC/ST (అత్యాచారాల నిరోధక) చట్టం, 1989 అమలు బలోపేతంపై చర్చ కొనసాగుతోంది. చట్టపరమైన రక్షణలు మరియు వాస్తవ న్యాయప్రాప్తి మధ్య ఉన్న అంతరాలను తాజా సమీక్ష ప్రస్తావించింది. �

CJP

தமிழ்: தேசிய அளவில் SC/ST வன்கொடுமைகள் தடுப்பு சட்டம், 1989 அமலாக்கத்தை வலுப்படுத்துவது குறித்து விவாதம் தொடர்கிறது. சட்டப் பாதுகாப்புக்கும் நடைமுறையில் கிடைக்கும் நீதிக்கும் இடையிலான இடைவெளி சுட்டிக்காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது. �

CJP

ಕನ್ನಡ: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ SC/ST ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯ ತಡೆ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ, 1989ರ ಪರಿಣಾಮಕಾರಿ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ಒತ್ತು ನೀಡುವ ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಕಾನೂನು ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಾಸ್ತವ ನ್ಯಾಯಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿಯ ನಡುವಿನ ಅಂತರವನ್ನು ಇತ್ತೀಚಿನ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸಿದೆ. �

CJP

8. National — SC status and Buddhism

English: A significant 2026 legal development affecting Dalit/Buddhist questions is the Supreme Court's March 2026 ruling concerning the religious eligibility attached to Scheduled Caste status. The current legal reporting states that SC status under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order remains restricted to Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. �

The Federal +1

हिन्दी: 2026 में दलित-बौद्ध समुदायों से जुड़ा महत्वपूर्ण कानूनी मुद्दा SC दर्जे और धर्म से संबंधित सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले का है। वर्तमान कानूनी रिपोर्टिंग के अनुसार SC दर्जा हिंदू, सिख और बौद्ध धर्म से संबंधित संवैधानिक व्यवस्था के अंतर्गत है। �

The Federal +1

తెలుగు: 2026లో దళిత-బౌద్ధ సమాజాలకు సంబంధించిన ముఖ్యమైన న్యాయ అంశం SC హోదా మరియు మతానికి సంబంధించిన సుప్రీంకోర్టు తీర్పు. ప్రస్తుత న్యాయ నివేదికల ప్రకారం SC హోదా హిందూ, సిక్కు, బౌద్ధ మతాలకు సంబంధించిన రాజ్యాంగ వ్యవస్థలో ఉంది. �

The Federal +1

தமிழ்: 2026ஆம் ஆண்டில் தலித்-பௌத்த சமூகங்களுக்கு முக்கியமான சட்டப் பிரச்சினையாக SC அந்தஸ்து மற்றும் மதம் தொடர்பான உச்சநீதிமன்றத் தீர்ப்பு உள்ளது. தற்போதைய சட்ட அறிக்கைகளின்படி SC அந்தஸ்து இந்து, சீக்கிய, பௌத்த மதங்களுடன் தொடர்புடைய அரசியலமைப்பு விதிகளுக்குள் உள்ளது. �

The Federal +1

ಕನ್ನಡ: 2026ರಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತ-ಬೌದ್ಧ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಕಾನೂನು ವಿಷಯವೆಂದರೆ SC ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನ ಮತ್ತು ಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ತೀರ್ಪು. ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಕಾನೂನು ವರದಿಗಳ ಪ್ರಕಾರ SC ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನವು ಹಿಂದೂ, ಸಿಖ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಸಂವಿಧಾನಾತ್ಮಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ. �

The Federal +1

State-wise status — 18 August 2026

State/UT

18 Aug verified/current coverage found

Andhra Pradesh

SC-status/SC-ST Act legal development remains relevant

Arunachal Pradesh

Adivasi-related current developments require further verification

Goa

Dalit scholar caste-discrimination allegation — continuing/current

Madhya Pradesh

125 tribal children treated; 10 villages covered

Maharashtra

SC sub-classification controversy; caste census significance

Manipur

No strong 18-Aug specific item verified

Rajasthan

Manna Lal Rawat appointed ST Morcha national president

Sikkim

For example, a reservation debate, an Ambedkarite political statement, a welfare programme, an allegation, and an FIR are different categories. This makes the bulletin more reliable.

SC/ST Employment News — 18 August 2026

State-wise India bulletin | English

Important: I cannot honestly claim that every one of India's 28 states and 8 UTs has a new SC/ST-specific recruitment notification on 18 August. The list below contains opportunities that I could verify from current sources.

State/Region

Employment opportunity

Vacancies

SC/ST relevance

Deadline/status

Karnataka

Primary/Graduate Primary Teacher Recruitment

15,000

SC/ST reservation under Karnataka rules

Applications open from 18 Aug �

Adda247

Madhya Pradesh

MPESB Patwari / Group-2 Sub Group-4

200 Patwari posts

SC/ST reservation applicable

18 Aug — last day �

Adda247

Odisha

SSB Junior Assistant

SC/ST candidates covered under Odisha reservation/relaxation provisions

18 Aug — last day �

Testbook +1

Kerala

ICDS Supervisor — Special Recruitment for ST Women

—

ST-only special recruitment

Examination 18 Aug; 112 candidates listed �

Kerala Public Service Commission

Telangana

Police Recruitment

7,437

SC/ST candidates receive applicable reservation/fee concessions

18 Aug — application deadline �

Instagram

Maharashtra

State Health Society — Chief Digital & AI Officer

SC/ST reservation as applicable to contractual recruitment

Walk-in 18 Aug �

Free Job Alert

All India / Maharashtra, TN, Odisha, Karnataka etc.

SBI Junior Associate (Clerk)

9,766

SC/ST reservation in state-wise vacancies

Applications currently open; state-wise vacancies include Maharashtra 1,718, Tamil Nadu 1,410, Odisha 1,100 and Karnataka 760 �

Education Times

All India

SBI Special Recruitment Drive — Clerk

1,538 backlog posts

SC/ST/OBC special drive

Apply 7–27 Aug �

NaukriVarta

All India

Bank of Baroda Local Bank Officer

2,482

SC/ST reservation/age relaxation applicable

Notification released 18 Aug; last date 7 Sept �

PracticeMock

All India

CSIR Technician-I

SC/ST reservation/relaxations applicable

Notification/current application cycle opened 18 Aug; last date 17 Sept

All India

MP/other government recruitment opportunities

Various

SC/ST reservation according to respective recruitment rules

Current

Particularly important for SC/ST candidates

1. SBI — 1,538 SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies

This is the most directly relevant employment opportunity in the current bulletin. SBI has opened a Special Recruitment Drive covering 1,538 backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC candidates. The application window reported is 7–27 August 2026. �

NaukriVarta

SBI official website — recruitment⁠�

2. Kerala — ST Women Special Recruitment

Kerala PSC's August examination programme explicitly identifies Supervisor (ICDS), Special Recruitment from among Women Candidates of ST only. The examination is scheduled for 18 August 2026, with 112 candidates listed. �

Kerala Public Service Commission

Kerala PSC official recruitment/examination programme⁠�

3. Karnataka — 15,000 Teacher vacancies

The Karnataka School Education Department's 15,000-post teacher recruitment has its online application link scheduled to become active on 18 August 2026. SC/ST candidates should check the category-wise roster and applicable concessions in the official notification before applying. �

Adda247

Karnataka School Education Department⁠�

4. Telangana — 7,437 Police vacancies

The Telangana Police recruitment drive covers 7,437 posts. Available recruitment information reports an application deadline of 18 August 2026 and a reduced application fee for SC/ST candidates. �

Instagram

Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board⁠�

5. Madhya Pradesh — 200 Patwari vacancies

MPESB's Patwari recruitment has 200 posts, with applications closing 18 August 2026. SC/ST candidates should use the category applicable to their MP eligibility/caste certificate and check the official vacancy roster. �

Adda247

MP Employees Selection Board⁠�

6. Odisha — Junior Assistant

The Odisha State Selection Board recruitment for 14 Junior Assistant posts closes on 18 August 2026 at 11:45 PM. SC/ST candidates with the required Odisha eligibility/certificate are covered by the relevant reservation provisions. �

Testbook +1

SSB Odisha official website⁠�

7. Bank of Baroda — 2,482 Local Bank Officers

A major new notification was released today, 18 August 2026, for 2,482 Local Bank Officer positions. Online registration is reported to continue until 7 September 2026. SC/ST candidates should check the official notification's category-wise vacancies and concessions. �

PracticeMock

Bank of Baroda official website⁠�

State-wise coverage

Confirmed/current items found today:

Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana, plus major All-India recruitments.

For the remaining states/UTs, I would not label ordinary vacancies as "SC/ST employment news" unless the notification confirms SC/ST reservation, relaxation, fee concession, or a special recruitment drive.

Official job-search resource for SC/ST candidates

The Government of India's National Career Service (NCS) allows candidates to filter jobs by state/location and SC or ST category. �

ncs.gov.in +1

National Career Service — Government of India⁠�

Best opportunities to prioritize on 18 August:

SBI SC/ST/OBC Special Drive (1,538) → Karnataka Teacher Recruitment (15,000) → Telangana Police (7,437) → SBI Clerk (9,766) → Bank of Baroda LBO (2,482) → Kerala ST Women.

Tamil Nadu

‘TN took five decades to give legal backing for SC/ST sub-plan’

The Ambedkar-Kalaignar Visiting Fellowship, instituted in honour of Dr B. R. Ambedkar and M Karunanidhi, is inspired by former CM MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy and daughter Senthamarai Stalin.

TN took five decades to give legal backing for SC/ST sub-planPhoto | ANI

Express News Service

Updated on:

17 Aug 2026, 7:48 am

1 min read

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu took nearly five decades to give its Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan, a policy framework from the 1970s meant to ring-fence a share of the state budget for the community, the backing of law in 2024.

The legal gap is now at the centre of research by Bagavanidhi M, the inaugural Ambedkar-Kalaignar Visiting Fellow at SOAS University of London, whose fellowship term ends this month.

Bagavanidhi, a sociologist with over a decade of civil society work on Dalit and Adivasi welfare rights in Tamil Nadu who was picked from 88 applicants for the inaugural fellowship, is researching the Sub-Plan’s shift from a planning mechanism to a legislative one at SOAS’s South Asia Institute, tracing the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 2024.

“It was a policy framework formulated in the 1970s, a percentage of the budget that had to be spent on the community. It took until 2024 for Tamil Nadu to bring that under a legal framework with accountability. That is my first question: how and why did it take this long to become an Act?” Bagavanidhi told TNIE.

The Ambedkar-Kalaignar Visiting Fellowship, instituted in honour of Dr B. R. Ambedkar and M Karunanidhi, is part of the SOAS Initiative, inspired by former Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy..

SC/ST commission in Kerala disposes of 208 cases

Updated - August 17, 2026 07:52 pm IST - PALAKKAD

The Hindu Bureau

SC ST Commission chairperson Sekharan Miniyodan addressing a sitting held at District Collectorate, Palakkad, on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Kerala State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes disposed of 34 of the 43 cases considered at district-level grievance hearings held at the Collectorate conference hall in Palakkad and at Agali on Monday.

With this, the commission has taken up 272 complaints across six hearings in Palakkad district so far, and disposed of 208 cases, commission chairperson Shekharan Miniyodan said.