Union cabinet of India has approved setting up of National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes replacing the National Commission for Backward Classes.
There have been demands in Parliament for grant of constitutional status to the National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes to enable it to hear the grievances in the same manner as that of Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes.
In a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approval was given to amending the Constitution and inserting Article 338B for setting up the new commission.
A constitutional amendment requires two-thirds approval of both houses of Parliament and subsequent ratification by 50% of the state assemblies.
The bill to be introduced in Parliament proposes:
Insertion of provision to provide for Parliament’s approval for every inclusion into and exclusion from the Central List of Other Backward Classes
Insertion of a new Clause to define Socially and Educationally Backward Classes
Repeal of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 and Rules framed there under
Dissolution of the Commission constituted under the Act of 1993
Composition of the new Commission with a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and three other members
Set up in 1993, the NCBC was entrusted with examining requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and advice central government on the matter.
Proposals of National Commission for SEBC
Parliament’s approval for every inclusion into & exclusion from Central List of OBC
Insertion of new Clause to define Socially & Educationally Backward Classes
Repeal of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 & Rules framed there under
Dissolution of Commission constituted under the Act of 1993
Composition of new Commission with Chairperson, Vice Chairperson & 3 other Members
