OBC

OBC stands for Other Backward Class, a term used in India's system of affirmative action to identify certain social groups that are considered socially and educationally disadvantaged. The category is used to determine eligibility for reservations in public sector employment and higher education, with the aim of improving representation for these groups.

The constitutional and legal framework: The Constitution permits the state to make special provisions for backward classes under articles 15(4) and 16(4). The concept gained prominence after the Mandal Commission (1990) recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in central government jobs and educational institutions. The Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) upheld the policy while restricting total reservations to 50% and introducing the “creamy layer” principle to exclude the more affluent from OBC reservations.

Implementation and lists: A central list of OBCs is maintained by the Government of India, while states may maintain their own lists. Reservations for OBCs are implemented in central government institutions and many states, with percentages and criteria varying by jurisdiction.

Creamy layer and EWS: The creamy layer excludes economically advanced members from benefiting from OBC reservations; income and other criteria are periodically adjusted by government. In 2019, a separate 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) was added, applicable across castes, and OBC reservations continue in parallel in many institutions.

Note: OBC can also refer to other terms in different contexts; this article focuses on the Indian administrative category.