OBC Reservation in MP | 24 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

A hearing was held in the Supreme Court on the issue of providing 27% reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Madhya Pradesh. 

Key Points 

• OBC Reservation Status : 
  • OBCs get 27% reservation in central government jobs and educational institutions 
  • In 1953, the Kalelkar Commission was set up, which brought the first instance of recognition of backward classes beyond Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) at the national level. 
  • In 1980, the Mandal Commission report estimated the OBC population at 52% and identified 1,257 communities as backward classes. 
    • To remove the inequality, it suggested increasing the existing quota (earlier applicable only to SC/STs) from 22.5% to 49.5%, with reservation expanded to include OBCs. 
    • Following these recommendations, the Central Government implemented the reservation policy under Article 16(4), reserving 27% of seats in the Central Civil Services for OBCs. 
      • The policy was also extended to Central Government educational institutions under Article 15(4). 
  • In 2008, the Supreme Court intervened to ensure that these benefits reach the most disadvantaged and directed the Central Government to exclude the “creamy layer” (advanced classes) among OBCs from the benefits of the reservation policy. 
  • In the year 2018, the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act provided constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
    • It elevated the NCBC from its previous status as a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment , giving it greater power and recognition to protect the interests of backward classes, including OBCs.