Kerala Cabinet Includes 28 OBC Communities in SEBC List, Extends Higher Education Reservation

Web Desk

Published on Feb 04, 2026, 09:12 PM | 2 min read

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Cabinet has decided to include 28 communities that are currently listed as OBCs but not included in the SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) list under the SEBC category. The decision was taken after accepting the recommendations of the State Backward Classes Commission.

With this move, students belonging to these communities will become eligible for reservation and educational concessions in higher education.

At present, reservation and educational benefits for higher education courses are granted only to communities included in the SEBC list formulated based on the Kumarapillai Commission (1965). As these 28 communities were not part of that list, they had so far been excluded from educational reservation benefits, despite being classified as OBCs.

After the anomaly was brought to the government’s attention, the State government sought a detailed report from the Backward Classes Commission. Based on the Commission’s recommendations, the Cabinet approved the inclusion of these communities in the SEBC list.

Communities included in the SEBC list:

Ambalakkaran
Anjunadu Vellalar
Dasa
Kottayar
Kumara Kshatriya
Kunnuvar Mannadi
SIUC – Nadar
Naidu
Kodangi Nayakan
Pulava / Vettuva / Padayachi / Kavaliya of the Gounder community
Senai Thalavar, Ilavanniyar, Ilavanyar
Thachar (traditional carpenters)
Thol Kollans
Mahendra Medara
Vishavan (Malabar region)
Kammara
Chetties – Mountadan – Idanadan
Ezhuthachan
Kadachi Kollan
Kongu Navithan, Vettuva Navithan, Aduthon
Kongu Vellala Gounder group – Nattu Gounder, Vellala Gounder, Pala Gounder, Pooshan Gounder, Pala Vellala Gounder
Vaduka, Vaduva, Vadukar, Vaduvans, Vadugand, Vadukars, Vadukas, Vadukans
Vaniyans
Yogees, Kurukkal / Gurukkal, Chettiar, Hindu Chetti, Pappada Chetti
Malaya Kandi (excluding Malabar region)
Shaiva Vellala sub-groups – Cherakkula Vellala, Karkartha Vellala, Chozhiya Vellala, Pillai
Kaniyar
Ezhava–Thiyya group including Izhavan, Ishavan, Ezhavan, Ezhuva, Izhuva, Ishuva, Illuva, Irava, Iruva