-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government is set to constitute a commission to examine how the Central list of OBCs can be divided into sub-groups, an act that appears to be a BJP move to win over the "most backward castes" by addressing their grievance of "inequitable" distribution of Mandal reservation benefits. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a commission for sub-categorisation of OBCs. It sets the...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: A ministerial panel is learnt to be taking a final look at a proposal which seeks to raise the income bar defining "creamy layer" for OBC reservation to Rs 8 lakh per annum. The Cabinet note sent by the social justice ministry has been lying with the government for nearly one year and is in the final stages of approval. According to those in the know,...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The government today denied any move to introduce reservations in the private sector, saying there was "no such proposal", a year after the National Commission for Backward Classes had suggested enacting a law to make private firms set aside jobs for marginalised sections. "There is no such proposal (for reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes) in the private sector," social justice and empowerment minister...

-The Indian Express New national commission for backward classes must address the gaps and lags in the Mandal project The government’s decision to set up a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NCSEdBC) in place of the existing National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) meets long-standing demands. The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEdBCs), and the Forum of BC MPs have asked for its constitution and the NCBC and...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: As the government moves to set up a more empowered panel for OBCs amid agitations from strong communities to secure "backward" status, experts are warning that the Centre should prevent growing attempts to abuse the fruits of Mandal Commission. PS Krishnan, domain expert and a champion of OBC reservations, told TOI, "The government should prevent the efforts of well-established advanced communities to get into the list...