The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education
Act details
| Short title | The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the reservation in admission of the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes of citizens, to certain Central Educational Institutions established, maintained or aided by the Central Government, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
| Act number | 5 of 2007 |
| Act year | 2007 |
| Enactment date | 3 Jan 2007 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education / Department of Higher Education |
| Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Jurisdiction | Central (Parliament of India) |
| Sections | 7 |
| Schedules | 1 |
| Status | Not repealed |
| Last checked on India Code | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Source | India Code, Government of India |
Legislative history
Legislative History: The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006
Short Title The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006
Act Number / Year Act No. 5 of 2007
Act ID (India Code) 200705
Presidential Assent Date 3rd January, 2007
Enforcement Date 3rd January, 2007
Precedent & Statutory Rationale
1. Constitutional Enablement (Ninety-Third Amendment, 2005):
o Prior to the enactment, Article 15 of the Constitution of India was amended via the Constitution (Ninety-Third Amendment) Act, 2005, inserting clause (5) which explicitly empowered the State to make special provisions by law for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes of citizens (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) regarding admission to educational institutions, including private and public institutions.
2. Expanding Access to Higher Education:
o The legislation was framed to establish a unified, statutory quota system across premier Central Educational Institutions (such as IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, and NITs) to ensure equitable representation and affirmative action for historically marginalized communities.
Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment
• Formulation: Prepared and piloted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development following comprehensive policy consensus and legislative deliberations.
• Parliamentary Passage: Tabled, rigorously debated, and passed by both Houses of Parliament during late 2006.
• Presidential Assent: Received formal Presidential Assent on January 3, 2007, entering the statute book as Act No. 5 of 2007.
• Enforcement: Enforced on 3rd January, 2007.
• Source: India Code and Ministry of Education Official Records