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Religion
SBI Faces Criticism Over Alleged Misclassification of ST Christians in Arunachal Pradesh
✍️ Northeast Today
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 05:02 PM
👁 11
The State Bank of India is being accused of wrongly classifying Scheduled Tribe Christians as General Category in Arunachal Pradesh, prompting protests from community groups.
The State Bank of India (SBI) has come under intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced that it incorrectly recorded Scheduled Tribe (ST) Christians as belonging to the General Category in Arunachal Pradesh. The purported misclassification, if true, could deny eligible beneficiaries the reservation benefits guaranteed under the Constitution.
Local community leaders and advocacy groups have raised the issue with state authorities, demanding a prompt investigation and correction of the bank's records. They argue that the error undermines the rights of tribal Christians who are entitled to specific quotas in education and employment.
SBI has not issued a detailed statement on the matter, but a spokesperson indicated that the bank is reviewing the complaints and will cooperate with any official inquiry. The bank’s response comes amid broader debates on the classification of religious minorities within tribal categories across the Northeast.
If the allegations are substantiated, the case could lead to legal challenges and compel the bank to amend its data management practices to ensure compliance with reservation policies.
Local community leaders and advocacy groups have raised the issue with state authorities, demanding a prompt investigation and correction of the bank's records. They argue that the error undermines the rights of tribal Christians who are entitled to specific quotas in education and employment.
SBI has not issued a detailed statement on the matter, but a spokesperson indicated that the bank is reviewing the complaints and will cooperate with any official inquiry. The bank’s response comes amid broader debates on the classification of religious minorities within tribal categories across the Northeast.
If the allegations are substantiated, the case could lead to legal challenges and compel the bank to amend its data management practices to ensure compliance with reservation policies.