OBC LISTS IN WEST BENGAL: WHY THE SCRUTINY?
1. Background
- National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) recommended exclusion of 35 communities (mostly Muslim) from West Bengal’s Central OBC list.
- Recommendation made in January 2025, revealed in Winter Session of Parliament 2025.
- Issue arises ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections (2026) and amid ongoing Supreme Court hearings on OBC classification.
WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE PROPOSED FOR EXCLUSION?
- Communities were added to the Central OBC list in 2014.
- Out of 37 communities,
- 35 were Muslim communities
- 2 non-Muslim: Devanga and Gangot
- These communities were earlier included based on a 2011 NCBC recommendation.
WHY WERE THEY INITIALLY INCLUDED (2011)?
Role of State & NCBC (2011)
- West Bengal State Commission for Backward Classes (2010) studied 46 communities.
- Found them:
- Socially backward
- Educationally backward
- Economically backward
- Under-represented in public services
- Erstwhile NCBC (Chair: Justice M.N. Rao) relied fully on State Commission findings.
Basis for Inclusion
- Many communities:
- Worked as manual labourers, barbers, bidi rollers, tailors, rickshaw pullers
- Had origins in lower Hindu castes and later converted to Islam
- Faced discrimination even after conversion
- NCBC noted:
- Some treated “like Scheduled Castes”
- Separate Namaz arrangements in mosques
- Hindu counterparts in other States already classified as OBC/SC
Contextual Reports
- Sachar Committee (2006)
→ Muslims’ marginalisation comparable to SCs - Ranganath Mishra Committee (2007)
→ Dalit Muslims/Christians continue facing caste discrimination post-conversion
→ Recommended de-linking SC status from religion
WHY IS NCBC NOW SEEKING EXCLUSION?
Change in NCBC’s Stand (Post-2022)
- New NCBC Chair: Hansraj Gangaram Ahir (BJP)
- 2023: NCBC began scrutinising WB OBC lists
- Raised concerns about:
- “Suspicious inclusion”
- “High number of Muslim communities”
- Similar scrutiny initiated in Karnataka
Judicial & Political Developments
Calcutta High Court (May 2024):
Struck down inclusion of many Muslim OBCs
Held religion was sole criterion
Affected ~5 lakh OBC certificates
Supreme Court:
Stayed HC order
Asked State for quantifiable data on backwardness & representation
Despite stay, NCBC proceeded and in Jan 2025:
Recommended exclusion of 35 out of 37 communities
Is there a clash with 2011 NCBC?
Yes Clear Contradiction.
CONSTITUTIONAL & PROCEDURAL ASPECT
| Aspect | NCBC (2011) | NCBC (2022–25) |
| View on religion | Religion not sole criterion | Religion allegedly dominant factor |
| Reliance on data | Accepted State Commission findings | Questions validity of earlier data |
| Political angle | Explicitly rejected | Implied suspicion |
| Approach | No fresh survey required | Fresh scrutiny undertaken |
• 2018: Constitution (102nd Amendment) Act
• Gave constitutional status to NCBC
• Identification of Central OBCs now requires:
• Parliamentary approval
• Presidential notification
• Unlike 2014:
• Executive cannot unilaterally notify changes
⸻
WHAT NEXT?
• NCBC advice sent to Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Union government yet to decide on amendment
• Any change now requires:
• Parliamentary legislation
• NCBC has sent similar inclusion/exclusion advice for 8 other States
⸻
KEY ISSUES FOR UPSC
• Religion vs backwardness debate
• Quantifiable data requirement (Indra Sawhney + recent SC rulings)
• Federal tensions: State vs Centre
• Impact of 102nd Constitutional Amendment
• Politicisation of affirmative action
Contact for more. Facebook