NCBC (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Over the past year, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has prioritized reviewing State OBC lists with the aim of reassessing the inclusion of communities that may have experienced advancements over time as a result of receiving benefits.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

• Establishment: The NCBC was initially constituted by the Central Government through the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
• Constitutional Status Granted: The NCBC gained constitutional status via “The Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018”, which introduced Article 338B.

o This amendment also added Article 342A and Clause 26C to Article 366.

• Composition: The Commission is comprised of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three other Members, all holding the rank and pay equivalent to that of Secretary to the Government of India.
• Appointment: The President appoints the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and other Members of the Commission through a warrant under his hand and seal.

Functions

• To examine and monitor all matters relevant to the SEBC's safeguards, as well as to assess the effectiveness of such safeguards.
• To look into particular issues regarding the SEBC's loss of rights and protections. Reports on how such protections are operating are to be given to the President.
• To take part in, provide advice on, and assess the socioeconomic growth of the educationally and socially disadvantaged classes. Etc.

Key Facts

• Ram Singh Vs Union of India 2015: The Supreme Court mandated OBC communities to be identified based on their “contemporaneous” conditions. “
• NCBC repeatedly asks States to justify continued inclusions in their OBC lists, it faces a singular hurdle that of absent data on current socio-economic conditions of OBCs and is pressing on States like West Bengal and Karnataka to produce this information.
• Karnataka government has clarified to the NCBC that it is considering Muslims under Category II-B as a backward class based on several State Commission reports classifying them.