Unequal utilisation of reservation benefits in higher education: evidence from scheduled caste households in Madhya Pradesh, India

This study examines the association between selected socio-economic characteristics and the utilisation of reservation benefits among Scheduled Caste (SC) households in Madhya Pradesh, India. The analysis draws on primary survey data collected from 348 SC households across nine districts during fieldwork conducted in 2025. Descriptive statistics summarise patterns of reservation utilisation, while Pearson's Chi-square tests assess associations between reservation utilisation in higher education institutions (HEIs) and three socio-economic characteristics: occupation, educational attainment, and household income. The results indicate statistically significant associations between reservation utilisation and all three variables. Higher utilisation is reported among households represented by respondents with undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral qualifications, as well as among households with relatively higher incomes and those associated with government or other formal occupations. The findings suggest that the utilisation of reservation provisions in higher education is unevenly distributed within the SC population and is closely associated with broader socio-economic advantages. The study also highlights intra-group variation in SC households' access to educational opportunities. These findings provide micro-level evidence on the socio-economic correlates of reservation utilisation and indicate the importance of complementary measures to strengthen educational pathways and improve equitable access to higher education.