- Presently, the reservations in public employment made available to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) cumulatively are 37% and 45 % in Punjab and West Bengal respectively.
- An increase in the reservation quota for OBCs will adhere to the Supreme Court's ceiling of up to 50% reservation in the Indra Sawhney case for socially and educationally backward classes.
About National Commission for Backward Classes(NCBC)
- The NCBC was set up as a statutory body under the NCBC Act, 1993.
- It has been accorded Constitutional Status through 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 with insertion of Article 338B.
- The commission consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members whose conditions of service and tenure of office are decided by the President.
- NCBC investigates and monitors all matters related to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes.
- The Commission will advise the Central Government on OBC inclusion/exclusion requests from state or central governments.
- To present report to the President, annually and at such other times as the commission may deem fit.
- If the Government does not agree with its recommendation, it must record its reasons.