Commission in final stages of compiling report on sub-categorisation of OBCs

The five-member commission, headed by Justice (retd) G Rohini, which is looking into the sub-categorisation of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), is in the final stages of compiling its report and submit it to the government by June 20.

The commission was formed with the approval of President Ram Nath Kovind on October 2 last year and was mandated to examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities in the central list of OBCs.

It was also tasked with working out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters for sub-categorisation within such OBCs and taking up the exercise of identifying the castes, sub-castes and communities and classifying them into the respective sub-categories.

"The commission is in the final stages of compiling its findings and recommendations," a government official said.

In a bid to reach out to the OBCs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday referred to the commission for sub-categorisation of OBCs and promised to give reservation to the most backward classes in educational institutions and government jobs in a time-bound manner.

Modi had said this at a public rally at Baghpat in western Uttar Pradesh, after inaugurating the Rs 11,000-crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

Initially, the commission was stipulated to submit its report within 10 weeks from the assumption of charge by the chairperson. Subsequently, keeping in view the voluminous data obtained from all quarters and the time required for its scientific analysis to prepare a comprehensive report, the commission had sought an extension of its term till June 20, which the Union cabinet had approved.

The commission, which had started functioning from October 11 last year, has interacted with officials of all the states and Union territories that have reservation for OBCs and the state backward classes commissions.

It has also collected data from higher education institutes regarding admission of OBC students in the last three years.

It has also collected last three years' data on recruitment of OBC candidates in government departments, public sector banks and financial institutions.