Maharashtra Govt. cancels 5% Muslim quota in jobs and education

The Maharashtra government has cancelled the 5% reservation to members of the Muslim community in jobs and education.

A Government Resolution (GR) was issued to this effect on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), as the previous ordinance about the 5% reservation has lapsed and there is an interim court stay on that decision.

The previous Congress-NCP government had issued an ordinance to grant a 16% quota to Marathas and 5% to Muslims.

As per the new GR, all previous decisions and the ordinance related to the 5% reservation in government, semi-government jobs and educational institutions for the socially and educationally backward Muslim group included under the Special Backward Category (A) have been cancelled.

Also Read | No Muslim quota even if your fourth generation comes, Amit Shah tells Rahul Gandhi

The government has cancelled the earlier decisions and circulars from 2014 and stopped issuing caste and non-creamy layer certificates to Muslims in the Special Backward Category, the new order said.