Union Cabinet okays corrections in Central List of OBCs

The Union Cabinet today gave its nod to amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for corrections with regard to a few communities hailing from Gujarat and Uttarakhand.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for suitable amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes in respect of Gujarat and Uttarakhand by way inclusion/correction of castes/communities as per the advices received from the National Commission for Backward Classes, an official statement here said.
Accordingly, Sipai and Patni Jamat or Turk Jamat (all Muslims) in Gujarat, and Kahar and Tanwar Singhariya communities from Uttarakhand have been included in the Central OBC List, the statement added.

Later, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said that these communities were already in the Central List of OBCs and today's amendment was meant to make minor corrections.
"These are not new communities, which are being included. They are already existing in the Central list of OBCs," he said.
Moreover, sources in the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) said they had recommended for the amendment as there was minor differences in spellings of the names of these communities in their respective state and Central OBC lists. Therefore, an amendment was necessary, they added.
According to the statement, the amendments will enable the persons belonging to these castes/communities to avail the benefits of reservation in government services and posts as well as in central educational institutions as per the existing policy.

They will also become eligible for benefit under various welfare schemes, scholarships etc. Being administered by the central government, which are at present available to persons belonging to OBCs, it added.