Context: Recently, the Centre has extended the tenure of The Commission to Examine Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Background

• OBCs are granted 27% reservation in jobs and education under the central government.
• In September 2020, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court reopened the legal debate on sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservations.
• The debate arises out of the perception that only a few affluent communities among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs have secured a major part of this 27% reservation.

What is sub-categorisation of OBCs?

• The argument for sub-categorisation or creating categories within OBCs for reservation is that it would ensure “equitable distribution” of representation among all OBC communities.
• The Commission to Examine Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is headed by Justice G Rohini.

Terms of References for OBC Sub-Categorisation
It was originally set up with three terms of reference, but the fourth term of reference was recently added by the Cabinet. The terms of reference are:

• To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of OBCs with reference to such classes included in the Central List;
• To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such OBCs;
• To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of OBCs and classifying them into their respective sub-categories
• To study the various entries in the Central List of OBCs and recommend correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription.

Extent of OBC recruitment in central jobs
As per the report submitted to the NCBC by the Department of Personnel and Training in July 2020, OBC representation is:

• 16.51 % in group-A central government services,
• 13.38 % in group-B,
• 21.25 % in group-C (excluding safai karmacharis) and
• 17.72 % in group-C (safai karmacharis).

It was observed that a number of posts reserved for OBCs were being filled by people of general category as OBC candidates were declared “NFS” (None Found Suitable).

Reservation in India

• It is a system of affirmative action that provides representation for historically and currently disadvantaged groups in Indian society w.r.t to education, employment and politics. 
• Under Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, it allows the government to set quotas to ensure any "socially and educationally backward classes of citizens" is properly represented in public life. 
• It is intended to realize the promise of equality enshrined in the Preamble of our Constitution.
• Article 15(4) allows the state to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
• Article 16(4) allows the state to make special provisions for the reservation of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.
• The Indira Sawhney Case recognized socially and economically backward classes as a category and recognized the validity of the 27 percent reservation. 
• It laid down a 50 percent limit on reservations and observed that economic, social and educational criteria were needed to define backward classes.

Current Reservation System

• Scheduled Castes (SCs) - 15%
• Scheduled Tribes (STs) - 7.5%
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs) - 27%
• Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) - 10%