TOPIC

Scheduled Caste

Supreme Court dismisses review petition, which challenged loss of ‘Scheduled Caste’ status after conversion to Christianity

OpIndia Staff - 27 July, 2026

In its March 2026 judgment, the apex court upheld the High Court's decision, holding that a person professing Christianity cannot claim the legal protections available under the SC/ST Act because Scheduled Caste status is recognised only for persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism.

‘A convert to Islam is only a Muslim, he cannot claim reservation benefits’: Madras HC strikes down Tamil Nadu govt order, slams attempt to...

Aditi - 26 June, 2026

The High Court said that when a person converts to Islam, he becomes a Muslim, and his place in Muslim society is not determined by the caste to which he belonged before his conversion.

News Reports

Congress govt in Karnataka moves to implement sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes, two years after the Supreme Court’s order

Shriti Sagar - 28 April, 2026

The Supreme Court’s ruling has given states greater flexibility to design reservation policies that address internal inequalities within SC and ST communities.

Law

‘Only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists can be Dalits, those who convert to Christianity cannot file case under SC/ ST Act’: Supreme Court of India

OpIndia Staff - 24 March, 2026

"No person who professes a religion other than Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist shall be a member of Scheduled Caste. Conversion to any other religion results in loss of Scheduled Caste status," ruled the Supreme Court.

News Reports

MP Baijayant Panda comes to anganwadi to eat food prepared by Dalit cook, convinces villagers against casteism and solves a lingering problem

OpIndia Staff - 16 February, 2026

The villagers have agreed to send their children to the anganwadi centre starting from 16th February,

Government and Policy

Bihar govt to pay fees of SC/ST students studying at premier institutions, increase scholarships and more: Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff - 2 February, 2026

The decision "removes financial barriers, allowing our students to dream big without worry," according to minister Lakhendra Roshan.

Opinions

Supreme Court allows SC certificate for girl based on mother’s caste, despite ‘inter-caste’ marriage of parents: Why this is a problematic precedent

Shraddha Pandey - 9 December, 2025

On Monday, the Supreme Court bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Baghchi refused to entertain a plea challenging a Madras High Court order which directed the issuance of an SC caste certificate to the Puducherry girl based on her mother’s caste to ensure that her academic career does not suffer without it

News Reports

‘SC benefits can’t be extended to Christian converts’: Allahabad HC calls it a ‘fraud on the constitution’, directs UP DMs to identify converts wrongly...

Aditi - 2 December, 2025

The applicant is accused of furnishing a fake affidavit claiming that he is a Hindu, while he converted to Christianity and became a priest.

Fact-Check

Fact check: Congress, SP and Bhim Army falsely claim ‘upper-caste’ men killed Dalit teen in Greater Noida – here is the truth

Anurag - 26 October, 2025

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed and others claimed “upper-caste goons” killed a Dalit boy in Greater Noida. However, the accused were from the Meena community, a Scheduled Tribe, exposing politically motivated misinformation surrounding the case.

News Reports