The defence ministry has announced that other backward castes-non creamy layer (OBC-NCL) will be given 27 per cent reservation in 31 Sainik Schools with effect from the 2021-22 academic session. The announcement was made by defence secretary Ajay Kumar through Twitter, even as defence minister Rajnath Singh was busy campaigning in Bihar for the assembly polls on Friday. The move led to some criticism in defence circles, with a few officers calling it 'a retrograde step that will sow the seeds of caste-discrimination in the armed forces in the long run'. A defence ministry official, however, dismissed the contention. 'It is in accordance with the national norms as well as the formulations of the HRD ministry on admissions in educational institutions. The order was issued to all Sainik School principals on October 13,' he said. The 27% reservation for OBCs will be in addition to the existing 15% for SCs, 7.5% for STs and 25% for children of serving and retired military personnel under the “defence category” in Sainik Schools. In each Sainik School, 67% of seats are reserved for children of that state or UT, with the rest 33% for candidates from other places. If any of the reserved categories of SC, ST or OBC-NCL are not available within the home state\UT, the seats shall be distributed among the defence and general categories to ensure the 67% criteria is met, said the MoD order.