Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 limits Scheduled Caste status to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists

Exam-focused facts from the 26 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Supreme Court bench of Justices PK Mishra and NV Anjaria ruled that conversion to a religion outside Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism ends Scheduled Caste status.
The court cited Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 which recognises only Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists as eligible for Scheduled Caste benefits.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier held that continued practice of Christianity disqualifies a person from claiming Scheduled Caste reservation.
The Allahabad High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure Scheduled Caste status is not granted to converts and ordered district magistrates to identify such cases within four months.