• Recently, the Centre extended the tenure of The Commission to Examine Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) headed by Justice G Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.

• For the purpose of reservations, it is intended to divide the broader group of OBCs into subcategories.
• Under the central government, OBCs are given a 27% reservation in both employment and education.
• Other quota categories have also been the subject of legal discussion; in September of last year, the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench renewed the discussion on the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for reservation purposes.
• For OBCs, the controversy stems from the impression that only a small number of wealthy groups out of the approximately 2,600 OBCs included on the Central List have successfully claimed a significant portion of the 27 percent reserve. Sub-categories within OBCs should be established, according to the justification, in order to maintain “equitable distribution” of representation among all OBC communities.

• The government announced a 27 percent reservation for members of the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) in August 1990, based on the Second Backward Classes Commission’s (Mandal Commission) advice, for open positions in civil services and positions that would be filled through direct recruitment.
• After it was contested, the Supreme Court affirmed the 27 percent OBC reservation in November 1992 (Indira Sawhney case), with the condition that the creamy layer be excluded.

Source : The Hindu