OBC sub-categorisation panel - All You Need To Know

The panel to be headed by Justice (Retd.) G. Rohini has three terms of references:

1. To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes with reference to such classes included in the Central List;
2. To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such Other Backward Classes; and
3. To take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of Other Backward Classes and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.

The panel is required to present its report within a period of around three months. 

After this, the Centre would consider how to implement the recommendations. 

BJP would have enough time on its hand to decide on when and how to use the recommendations for it Mission 2019

Note

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government has set up a commission for sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). 

Members of the panel were appointed by President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday Oct 02,2017

In an official release, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said, “This decision, taken on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, reinforces, in the spirit of his teachings, the Government’s efforts to achieve greater social justice and inclusion for all, and specifically members of the Other Backward Classes.”

“Sub categorization of the OBCs will ensure that the more backward among the OBC communities can also access the benefits of reservation for educational institutions and government jobs,” it added.

While expanding social justice to those who have yet failed to benefit from the OBC quota is one stated goal behind the move, the politics of it, also, cannot be ignored. OBCs form a major chunk of total electorates of India. 

The Mandal Commission report of 1980 had quoted OBC population of the country at 52%. However, the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) survey of 2006 quoted OBC population at 41%.