Notice to W.B. over bid to include 87 castes in OBC list

• The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has issued a notice to the West Bengal government
• it seek the required documentation for its proposal to include 87 castes in the State to the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

Key Points

• The NCBC is in the middle of an investigation into what its Chairperson,called an “unusual abundance” of Muslim castes in West Bengal’s OBC list.
• As per the notice, the State had so far been unable to show documents on genealogy of Hindu caste groups that had converted their religion.
• The NCBC is also in the middle of looking into proposals from other States on the inclusion of castes in the Central OBC List.

National Commission for Backward Classes

• It is an Indian constitutional body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• It was established through Constitution Act, 2018 (also called, 102nd Amendment Act, 2018)
• This amendment act in the constitution to make it a constitutional body under Article 338B of the Indian Constitution.
• It was constituted pursuant to the provisions of the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.

Function

• To advise actively on the socio-economic development of the socially backward classes (OBCs) along with evaluating the progress of their development.
• It has all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit.

Prelims Takeaway

• Article 338B
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
• National Commission for Backward Classes