Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will wait for central government notification to implement the other backward classes (OBC) quota after the Supreme Court Thursday upheld 27 percent reservation for the community.

"Unless there is a separate notification, we will not be able to admit OBC students under the quota," said IISc deputy registrar V.K. Subbaraman.

The last date for receiving applications for post-graduate courses in IISc, a deemed university, has closed in March.

"Admission is based on GATE percentage. Interviews are scheduled in June," Subbaraman said.

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the law, passed unanimously by parliament in December 2006 to provide 27 percent quota for OBCs in government institutes of higher learning.

But the apex court has clarified that the 'creamy layer', or the affluent among OBCs, would be kept out.

"Reservation under OBCs quota will be applicable only for post-graduate courses - ME, MS and MTech and not for PhDs and post-doctoral courses," Subbaraman said.

Even if notification is issued, implementation will take time as the century-old institute has to create additional seat capacity, expand hostel facility and hire more faculty members.

"In all, we have about 600 students. About 50 percent of them are pursuing PhD courses and advanced research studies in various disciplines.

"The remaining are PG students for masters in sciences and engineering. The institute board will have to meet and discuss on how to implement the quota for this academic year in such a short time," Subbaraman said. IANS