Call for Sub-Caste Data Inclusion in Civil Services Lists

The Central Information Commission has recommended including sub-caste details in civil services exam lists to ensure reservation benefits reach diverse communities. The suggestion came from disposing of an RTI appeal, highlighting existing records only cover broad social categories, with newer data available online lacking sub-caste details.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) recently urged the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to consider incorporating sub-caste information in the final lists of civil services exams. This recommendation aims at evaluating how reservation benefits are distributed across various caste groups.

The appeal stemmed from a Right to Information (RTI) application requesting caste-wise details of Indian Administrative Service candidates selected via the 1995 Union Public Service Commission exam. The DoPT revealed that data is only available by broad social categories such as SC, ST, and OBC, not detailed sub-caste levels.

While older records are untraceable, the CIC noted that newer service allocation data is publicly accessible, although it lacks sub-caste specifics. The commission advocated for incorporating these details in future disclosures to ensure reservation policies benefit a broader range of communities.