Explained: Sub-categorising OBCs

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: Sub-categorising OBCs” published in “Indian Express” on 8^th July 2022.

What is the News?

The Centre extended the tenure of The Commission to Examine Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) headed by Justice G Rohini, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. The present extension is provided until January 31 next year.

What is sub-categorisation of OBCs?

This is to create sub-categories within the larger group of OBCs for the purpose of reservation. OBCs are granted 27% reservation in jobs and education under the central government.

There is a perception that only a few affluent communities among the over 2,600 included in the Central List of OBCs have secured a major part of the 27% reservation. Hence, the sub-categorization aims to ensure “equitable distribution” of representation among all OBC communities.

To fulfil that, the government constituted Rohini Commission on October 2, 2017.

About the commission’s extensions and progress

The Commission was given 12 weeks to submit its report but has since been given 10 extensions. According to the RTI query, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) had said that until December 2020, over Rs 1.92 crore had been spent on the Commission including salary, consultant fees and other expenses.

In 2019, the Commission wrote that it is ready with the draft report on sub-categorisation. The Commission now began studying the list of communities in the central list.

The major challenge faced by the commission is the absence of data for the population of various communities to compare with their representation in jobs and admissions.

What are the findings of the commission so far?

What is the extent of OBC recruitment in central jobs?

According to data tabled in Parliament, the total number of Group A to Group C employees (including safai karmacharis) was 5.12 lakh.

Further, “Out of 91 Additional Secretaries, the number of officers belonging to SC/ST and OBC communities are 10 and 4 respectively and out of 245 Joint Secretaries, the number of officers belonging to SC/ST and OBC communities is 26 and 29 respectively in various Ministries/Departments under Central Staffing Scheme.”

These data cover 43 departments and government offices including the Cabinet Secretariat, UPSC and Election Commission, but excluding the largest central government employers such as Railways and Department of Posts.