Sub–categorization of OBCs | Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow | Best Defence Academy in Lucknow
After 13 extensions, the Justice G Rohini Commission has submitted its report intended to address distortions in the regime that are seen as allowing certain castes to corner the bulk of benefits.
THE LONG-awaited report of a commission set up to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was submitted- ted to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, the last working day of the commission.
The four-member commission headed by #Justice G Rohini, a retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, was appointed on October 2, 2017, and received 13 extensions to its tenure.
The contents of the commission’s report are expected to be politically sensitive, with a direct bearing on the electoral calculations of parties ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The contents have not been made public yet. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
In a related development, Patna High Court on Tuesday dismissed a legal challenge to the decision of the Bihar government to conduct a caste survey, paving the way for the exercise in the state.”
What is the ‘sub-categorization’ of OBCs?
OBCs are entitled to 27% reservation in central government jobs and admission to educational institutions, based on the Mandal Commission report. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
But while there are more than 2,600 entries in the Central List of OBCs, over the years, a perception has grown that only a few affluent communities among them have benefited from the quota.
The argument for ‘sub-categorization’ of OBCS-identifying quotas within the 27% quota – is based on the recognition of perceived distortions in the affirmative action policy, and to ensure “equitable distribution” of the benefits of reservation. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
Even as the Justice Rohini Commission was examining this question, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in August 2020 intervened in the subcategorization debate, ruling that an earlier (2005) decision of the court that disallowed sub-quotas within the SC-ST quota must be re-examined by a larger Bench. #Sub–categorization of OBCs #Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow
What were the terms of reference of the Rohini Commission?
The commission’s brief was originally 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”;
“Work out the mechanism, criteria, norms, and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorization within such OBCS”; and
“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”.
The commission was set up with a tenure of 12 weeks ending January 3, 2018, but was given repeated extensions. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
On July 30, 2019, the commission wrote to the government that it had “noted several ambiguities in the list… [and] is of the opinion that these have to be clarified/ rectified before the sub-categorized central list is prepared”. Thus, on January 22, 2020, a fourth item was added to its terms of reference: “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.” #Sub–categorization of OBCs
One of the prominent members of the commission, Jitendra Bajaj, was appointed chairperson of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in May last year. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
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How did the work of the Commission proceed?
The commission noted the absence of data on the population of various communities to compare with their representation in jobs and admissions. It wrote to the government on December 12, 2018, asking for a budgetary provision for an all-India survey to estimate the population of the various OBCs.
However, on March 7, 2019, just three days before the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections was announced, Justice Rohini wrote to the government, saying “We have now decided not to undertake such a survey at this stage.” In its July 2019 communication, the commission informed the government that it was ready with a draft report. However, after the fourth term of reference was added, the commission began to study the list of communities in the Central List of OBCs.
Sources had said earlier that there was a suggestion that the commission should use data from the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of the Rural Development Ministry, but these data were not considered reliable. #Sub–categorization of OBCs
On August 31, 2018, then-Home Minister d Rajnath Singh announced that Census 2021 would also collect data for OBCs. But the census was delayed by the pandemic, and the government has not said when it might be conducted. 1992 20 #Sub–categorization of OBCs
Meanwhile, OBC groups and almost all political parties barring the BJP central leadership have stepped up the demand for a caste census. In Bihar, even the BJP has backed the move-the Bihar legislature has twice unanimously passed resolutions calling for a caste census.
What studies did the commission carry out?
In 2018, the commission analyzed data on 1.3 lakh central government jobs under the OBC quota over the preceding five years, and OBC admissions to central higher education institutions, including universities, IITs, NITS, IIMs, and AIIMS, over the preceding three years.
The analysis showed that 97% of all jobs and education seats had gone to 25% of OBC castes, and 24.95% of these jobs and seats had gone to just 10 OBC communities. As many as 983 OBC communities -37% of the total – were found to have zero presentation in jobs and educational institutions, and 994 OBC sub-castes had a representation of only 2.68% in recruitment and admissions.
However, this analysis suffered from limitations due to the absence of updated population data.
