Lok Sabha Question No. 5277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Other Backward Classes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5277 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2026

## OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES

## 5277. SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the criteria and parameters followed by the Central Government for inclusion O exclusion of communities in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the statutory role of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC);
- whether the Government has taken note of recent NCBC reports regarding data gaps, delays in processing State proposals and mismatch between State and Central OBC lists, if SO, the details thereof;
- whether the Government is aware that several communities; including Kodava/Kodavaru/Kodagaru; remain excluded from the Central OBC list despite State-level recognition, if s0, the details thereof;
- d) the date of the last revision of the Central OBC list and the number of communitieslsubcastes added or deleted, State-wise;
- (e whether the impact of such exclusion on access to Central OBC welfare schemes for reservation in Central recruitment and competitive examinations has been assessed, if s0, the details thereof; and
- whether the Government of Karnataka has submitted any recent proposal for inclusion and its status, if the details thereof? SO,`

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI BL:VERMA)

- (a) & (b): The criteria and parameters followed by the Central Government for inclusion o exclusion of communities in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is done as per the Article 3424 of the Constitution of India. Article 338B of the Constitution provides the constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes(NCBC) and the provisions are annexed at Annexure-1.
- (c) to (): Recently, no proposal  for inclusion of Kodava/Kodavaru/Kodagaru has been received from the State Government of Karnataka and these communities are not included in the Central list of OBCs: All the inclusionslexclusions done in the Central list of OBCs can be accessed on the website of NCBC (ncbc nic in.)

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PART II Section 1

## PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

ro 34] No 34] NEW DELHL SATURDAY, AUGUST 1l, 2018/SHRAVANA 20, 1940 (SAKA)

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed AS & separate compilation

## MINISTRY OF LAWAND JUSTICE

(Legislative Department)

The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the

## THE CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND AMENDMENT) ACT, 2018

## AnAct further to amend the Constitution of India.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

- Act; 2018.
- (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may. by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. In article 338 of the Constitution; in clause (10), the words. brackets and figures\_ 'to such Other backward classes as the President may on receipt of the report of a Commission appointed under clause (1) of article 340, by order specify and also' shall be omitted:

Short title and

Amendment of article 338.

Insertion of new article 338B\_

National Commission for Backward Classes.

3. After article 338A of the Constitution, the following article shall be inserted, namely:

"338B. (1) There shall be a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes to be known as the National Commission for Backward Classes\_

(2) Subject to the provisions of any law made in this behalf by Parliament; the Commission shall consist ofa Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members and the conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members sO appointed shall be such as the President may by rule determine.

(3) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.

(4) The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedure.

(5) It shall be the of the Commission duty

(a) to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes under this Constitution or under any other law for the timc being in force O under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;

(b) to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the socially and educationally backward classes;

(c) to participate and advise on the socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;

(d) to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

(e) t0 make in such reports the recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes; and

(f to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament; by rule specify.

(6) The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament with memorandum explaining the action taken O proposed to be taken o the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations\_ along

(7) Where any such report; or any part thereof, relates to any matter with which any State Government is concerned, a copy of such report shall be forwarded to the State Government which shall cause it to be laid before the Legislature of the State along with memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the State and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations

(8) The Commission shall, while investigating any matter referred to in sub-clause (a) or inquiring into any complaint referred to in sub-clause (b) of clause (5),

have all the powers of civil court trying a suit and in particular in respect of the following matters, namely:

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;

(c receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) requisitioning any record or copy thereof from any court Or office; public

(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents;

any other matter which the President may, by rule, determine.

(9) The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes\_

4. After article 342 of the Constitution; the following article shall be inserted, namely:

"342A. (1) The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State, after consultation with the Governor thereof; by public notification, specify the socially and educationally backward classes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be socially and educationally backward classes in relation to that State Or Union territory, as the case may be.

(2) Parliament may by law include in Or exclude from the Central List of socially and educationally backward classes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any socially and educationally backward class, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification:

5. In article 366 of the Constitution; after clause (26B), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: \_

(26C) "socially and educationally backward classes means such backward classes as are S0 deemed under article 342A for the purposes of this Constitution;'

DR \_ G. NARAYANA RAJU, Secretary to the Govt. of India:

Insertion of new article 342 Socially and educationally backward classes:

of article 366.