Sub-categorization of OBC groups ? Rohini Commission findings

Sub-categorization of OBC groups – Rohini Commission findings

News: The Justice G. Rohini-led Commission, which was established in 2017 to explore the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBC) groups, submitted its report to the President of India.

Background:
• National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)proposed the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) back in 2015.
• In October 2017, former President Ram Nath Kovind, in the exercise of the powers conferred by Article 340 of the Constitution, appointed a commission to examine the issue of sub-categorisation of OBCs,chaired by retired Justice G. Rohini.

What is Sub-categorization of OBC groups?
• Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBC) groups involves classifying existing OBC caste groups into further categories based on their historical dominance in availing government benefits meant for OBCs.
• It aims to ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits among OBC communities by giving higher shares to historically marginalized groups and lesser shares to those that have traditionally dominated such benefits.

What is the need for sub-categorization?
• It is believed that only a few dominant caste groups among the OBC benefit from the existing 27% reservation in central government jobs and educational institutions.
• In 2018, an analysis of data from 1.3 lakh central government jobs and OBC admissions to central higher education institutions revealed that 97% of benefits were availed by just 25% of OBC castes.
• Nearly 37% (983) of OBC communities had zero representation in jobs and educational institutions, while 994 OBC sub-castes had a total representation of only 2.68% in recruitment and admissions.

What are the key findings of the commission?
Commission was tasked with first examining how much of 27% reservation (jobs and education) and other government benefits meant for OBCs was dominated by which caste groups.
• A small number of caste groups among all OBC groups were found to dominate the reservation quotas and other government benefits meant for OBCs.
• The Commission formulated a formula to allocate reservation shares based on historical underrepresentation, with the objective of providing a larger share to historically marginalized groups and reducing the share of dominant groups.
• The Commission suggested corrections and replacements in spellings within the Central OBC list.
• Nearly 37% (983) of OBC communities had zero representation in jobs and educational institutions, while 994 OBC sub-castes had a total representation of only 2.68% in recruitment and admissions.

Significance of the findings:
• The data on socio-economic changes among OBC communities since the inception of reservation in 1992 is of great significance as it reflects the impact of reservation policies on these communities’ development.
• The distribution of benefits, could have direct implications on the electoral strategies of political parties, leading them to reconsider their approach towards caste-based vote banks.
• The findings come amid calls for a caste census and growing interest in caste-based surveys.

Conclusion
• As the Commission’s report is with the Social Justice Ministry, the government is expected to hold deliberations on the recommendations contained in it, before thinking about implementing any part of it.