State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 22 Oct 2025

New Reservation Rotation Rules for BMC Elections

The Maharashtra government has unveiled fresh rules for reservation rotation across all 227 Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wards, marking a key step toward conducting the long-pending civic elections. 

• The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (Allotment and Rotation of Ward Councillor Reservations) Rules, 2025 were issued by the Urban Development Department. 

Key Points 

• New Priority-Based System: Seats will be reserved by first arranging wards in descending order of their SC/ST population percentage, ensuring wards with the highest concentration get reservation first. 
• Exclusion of OBC Reservation: The new framework does not apply to Other Backward Classes (OBC); their wards continue to be reserved through a lottery system due to the absence of a caste census. 
• 50% Quota for Women: As per existing norms, 50% of the total seats, including those within SC, ST, and OBC categories, are reserved for women, and the new rotation rules will apply to these seats as well. 
• Reset of Rotation Cycle: The state has directed that the upcoming polls be treated as the "first election" under this new system, effectively resetting the previous rotation cycle established in 1994. 

What is the Significance of the New Reservation Rotation Rules for BMC Elections? 

• Ensures Fair Representation: Wards with the highest population of SC, ST, and women are prioritized, ensuring that communities historically underrepresented have better access to political participation. 
• Transparency and Standardization: The rules provide a clear, data-based framework for allotting reserved seats based on population percentages, reducing arbitrariness in reservation decisions. 
• Women’s Empowerment: With 50% of seats reserved for women, the rules enhance gender representation in municipal governance, including in SC, ST, and OBC reserved wards. 
• Legal and Administrative Compliance: Aligns with constitutional provisions for representation of SCs, STs, OBCs, and women in urban local bodies, and follows the Supreme Court verdict on OBC reservation.