New OBC Commission to Get Constitutional Status

The Union cabinet on March 24, 2017 approved setting up of National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes replacing the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). The cabinet approved amending the Constitution and inserting Article 338B for setting up the new commission.

Salient Features of the Proposed Bill

The bill to be introduced in Parliament proposes:

• Insertion of a new Clause (26C) under Article 366 to define Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.
• Insertion of provision after Articles 341 and 342 viz. 342 A to provide for Parliament’s approval for every inclusion into and exclusion from the Central List of Other Backward Classes.
• Repeal of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, and Rules framed there under.
• Dissolution of the Commission constituted under the Act of 1993.
• Like the NCBC, the new body too will comprise of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and three other members.