In a significant push for gender-inclusive governance, the Madhya Pradesh state cabinet has approved an increase in the women's reservation quota for government jobs from the existing 30% to 35%. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, where several welfare and administrative reforms were placed on the agenda.
Under the revised policy, every third position in the state's direct recruitment process will now be reserved for qualified women candidates. The expansion covers both entry-level appointments and promotional opportunities across various state government departments, including state police services, administrative cadres, and subordinate staff recruitments conducted through the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC).
Women's reservation in state government employment in Madhya Pradesh had stood at 30% since it was first introduced, a provision that was part of broader affirmative action measures aimed at correcting the historically low representation of women in state administration. Female representation in state government jobs had hovered around 18-20% in recent years, well below even the earlier 30% quota threshold, reflecting systemic barriers in education, social mobility, and recruitment processes.
The increase to 35% comes after sustained advocacy from women's rights groups and civil society organisations in the state, which argued that the existing quota was not yielding proportional outcomes. Officials noted that several departments had reported a shortfall in filling women-reserved seats, partly due to a limited pool of eligible female candidates.
The revised quota is expected to take effect from the next recruitment cycle, with the state's General Administration Department issuing formal instructions to all recruiting agencies and departments. Legal and procedural formalities will be completed before the order becomes fully operational.
