India News

Mandal-era again: Modi govt appoints commission to identify OBC sub-categories

Published

9 years ago

October 3, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]- By Abhishek Kumar

Panel headed by retired Delhi HC chief justice G Rohini tasked with identifying OBC sub-categories on a scientific basis, to submit findings within 12 weeks

In a move that could revive the political churning last witnessed in India during the Mandal Commission days of the late 1980s, the Narendra Modi government has set up a commission to divide the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) into sub-groups to ensure a more equitable sharing of benefits between various classes covered in the overarching category.

The commission, set up on orders of President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday, will be chaired by retired Delhi high court chief justice G Rohini and has been tasked to identify the sub-categories on a scientific basis. The panel has to submit its findings to the government within 12 weeks.

There are three clear terms of reference for the commission:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1507027821301{margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

To examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes with reference to such classes included in the Central List
To work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such Other Backward Classes
To take up the exercise of identifying respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of Other Backward Classes and classifying them into their respective sub-categories.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While the state objectives of the commission seem well-intentioned and address a demand that had been long-pending from those members of the OBC community who find themselves robbed of the quota-benefits by dominant classes like the Yadavs, the political motivations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and his BJP cannot be discounted.Narendra Modi’s government and his BJP cannot be discounted.

Under the current reservation system, OBCs who qualify for quota benefits are entitled to a chunk of 27 per cent of the Centre government’s jobs and educational opportunities – a recommendation that was made under the Mandal Commission report and implemented by the then Prime Minister VP Singh’s government in 1990 amid massive nationwide protests. The panel is likely to recommend that the most backward classes (MBCs) – the kurmis, mallahs, musahars, kumhars, barhais, kirar, gujars, and other politically significant communities – get a sub-quota within the 27 per cent block reserved for OBCs.

Politically, if the BJP is able to get the commission’s findings and recommendations implemented as law, the move could help the saffron party wean off a huge chunk of OBC votes from Opposition parties that mushroomed in the Mandal-era – like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Party and even its own ally – Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United). The parties have for long been cashing in electoral dividends on account of their claims of representing the political, social and economic interests of the OBCs.

While Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and Mulayam Singh’s SP have greatly benefitted from their Muslim-Yadav support base, Nitish has positioned himself as a Kurmi leader. Mayawati and her BSP owe their political relevance to the perception that they represent the most backward castes among the OBCs. The OBC-MBC divide, the anger among the MBCs against the dominant Yadav OBC political leadership has played a defining role in the politics of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – the two Indian states where politics is still seen from the prism of castes and which account for a total of 120 of Lok Sabha’s 543 seats.

In recent years, the BJP has made a concerted effort to reach out to MBCs and those OBC sub-groups that fail to find a political voice in the Mandal-era political parties and it has reaped huge benefits from this effort, both during the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and the UP assembly elections earlier this year.

In Modi’s home state of Gujarat, the BJP has been facing a major challenge from its erstwhile loyal vote bank of the Patel-Patidar community which has been demanding inclusion in the OBC list despite the fact that the community is largely seen as being economically strong and self-sufficient.

Once the commission submits its report, there is a possibility that the BJP might try to alter the current system of caste-based reservations but through a well-disguised logic. The sub-categorisation will help determine the economic status of different OBC communities and then propose a sub-quota for them – in effect it would meet the BJP’s long-pending poll promise of replacing purely caste-based reservation with reservation based on economic conditions.

Currently nine Indian states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Karnataka, Haryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu – have sub-categories for state quotas among the backward classes.

Once the commission submits its report, the Centre will try to push for a pan-India sub-categorisation and corresponding distribution of quota benefits. It remains to be seen how Mandal-era political veterans like Lalu, Mulayam, Mayawati and Nitish react to the final submission of the panel. But what is certain is that the move is set to trigger a massive political churning in India’s caste-based electoral politics.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:Lalu Prasad Narendra Modi Ram Nath Kovind

Up Next

Prakash Raj not returning his awards but slams PM Modi’s silence on Gauri Lankesh murder

Don't Miss

Day after Pak troops kill minors in Poonch, Jaish militants target BSF camp at Srinagar airport

India News

Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

4 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

9 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

14 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.