Yes, there is a reservation policy for M.Tech admissions in India, including for programs in Mechanical Engineering, which is governed by the Government of India. The reservation policy applies primarily to admissions in government-funded institutions such as IITs, NITs, and state universities. Here’s an overview:
1. Categories and Reservation:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): Typically, 15% of seats are reserved for candidates from the SC category.
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5% of seats are reserved for ST candidates.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 27% of seats are reserved for OBC candidates (non-creamy layer).
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10% of seats are reserved for candidates from the general category with economic disadvantages (as per the government’s EWS criteria).
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% of seats are reserved for candidates with disabilities, as per the government guidelines.
2. Eligibility for Reserved Categories:
- Candidates applying under reserved categories need to provide valid certificates (such as caste, income, or disability certificates) as proof. They must meet the minimum eligibility criteria set by the institution, although some relaxation in marks may be provided.
3. Institution-Specific Policies:
- Different institutions may have slightly varying reservation policies, but the central government’s reservation guidelines are followed by most institutions.
