Supreme Court concludes only Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists can claim Scheduled Caste status

The Supreme Court of India ruled on 24 March 2026 that individuals who convert from Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism to any other religion, including Christianity, immediately lose their Scheduled Caste (SC) status. The decision affirmed an Andhra Pradesh High Court judgment, clarifying that constitutional protections and entitlements tied to SC identity do not extend to those who have adopted religions outside the specified framework.