Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved an extension to the commission appointed to examine sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes. The extension is for 6 months, valid till 31st January 2021.
About the Commission

• Headed by Justice (Retd.) G Rohini, the commission was constituted under Article 340 of the Constitution with the approval of the President on 2nd October 2017.
• Article 340 deals with the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of backward classes.
• It had been constituted to complete the task of sub-categorising 5000-odd castes in the central OBC list so as to ensure more equitable distribution of opportunities in central government jobs and educational institutions.
• In 2015, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) had recommended that OBCs should be categorised into extremely backward classes, more backward classes and backward classes.
• The benefits of the reservation in OBCs are being cornered mostly by the dominant OBC groups over the years so there is a need to recognise sub-quotas for the extremely backward classes within the OBCs.
• NCBC has the authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.

What is the Sub category for OBC?

• Other Backward Class (OBC) is a common classification of castes used by the Government of India which are socially or educationally disadvantaged. As per Mandal Commission report of 1980, OBC’s constituted 52% of the country’s population.
• As per National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 2006 report, the OBC’s comprised 41% of the population. An accurate number would be available after the 2021 census. To make sure that Government benefits reach the deserving category, there are plans on having sub categories within OBC.
• The reason is currently 97% of government reservation benefits are availed by few of them namely, Yadav, Kurmi, Jats, Saini, Thevar, Ezhava and Vokkaliga castes.

Measure taken by the President of India to Examine Issues Related to Sub Categorization of OBC:

• In 2017 President of India constituted a 5-member commission to explore the concept of sub categorization of OBC. The commission is headed by Former Chief Justice of Delhi, G. Rohini. This commission was appointed by the President by exercising the provisions given in Article 340 of the Indian Constitution.

The objective of the commission is given below.

• To understand the extent of unfair and unjust distribution of benefits of reservation among different castes and communities in the Central OBC list.
• The actual OBC reservation will continue to be 27%, but mechanisms, criteria and parameters will have to laid out for actual sub categorization of OBC
• Bring order to Central list on OBC.
• This commission has received a total of 6 extensions since its appointment, the last extension was given in 2019.

Reservation provisions in India for OBC

• The Kalelkar Commission set up in 1953, for the first time identified the backward classes other than the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) at the national level.
• The Mandal Commission Report of 1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward class .It recommended an increase in existing quotas from 22.5% to 49.5% which to include the OBCs.
• The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provided constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was previously a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.