Archive · 3 Jan 2026
Tribal body opposes Assam ST status plan
A group of tribal organizations in Assam, India, is upset because the government wants to add six new communities to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The group, called CCTOA, says this will take away the special seats and rights that the existing STs have in the government and local councils.
They also say that the total number of reserved seats is already too high and adding more would be against the law.
The CCTOA has decided to reject this plan and will tell the government their reasons soon.
The CCTOA rejected the GoM's recommendation to include six communities in the ST list.
The CCTOA believes this will destroy political reservations for existing STs at various levels.
Assam's current reservation percentage is 59%, which is above the Supreme Court's 50% limit.
The CCTOA will submit their findings to cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu on December 6.
The six communities proposed for ST status already have 27% reservation as OBCs.
- Who
- Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) and Group of Ministers (GoM)
- What
- Opposition to the inclusion of six communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list
- When
- Decision made on December 4, to be submitted on December 6
- Where
- Assam, India
- Why
- Concerns over the destruction of political reservation for existing STs and unconstitutional reservation limits
- Organizations Involved
- Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA), Group of Ministers (GoM)
- Communities Proposed for ST Status
- Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Muttack, Koch-Rajbongshi, Tea Tribes/Adivasis
- Current ST Communities in Assam
- 14
- Assam's Reservation Percentage
- 59%
- Supreme Court Reservation Limit
- 50%
- CCTOA's Concern
- Destruction of political reservation for existing STs
- CCTOA's Next Step
- Submit findings to cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu
