Question

Explain the role of 'Other Backward Classes' in the Indian politics.

Hint:

Mention Mandal Commission, 27 percent reservation of 1990, the Supreme Court decision of 1992 and OBC based parties.

Answer 1

Step 1: Who are the OBCs:
Other Backward Classes are groups that are socially and educationally backward but are not part of the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.
They are a large part of the population, so they matter in elections.

Step 2: Role 1: Mandal Commission:
The Mandal Commission was set up in 1979 to study the backwardness of these groups.
In 1990 the National Front government under V. P. Singh decided to give 27 percent reservation in central government jobs to OBCs.

Step 3: Role 2: Social justice and reservation:
The OBCs demanded jobs and seats in education. Their struggle made reservation a major issue of Indian politics.
The Supreme Court upheld the 27 percent quota in 1992, but excluded the creamy layer.

Step 4: Role 3: New political parties and leaders:
OBC groups were organised by parties such as the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Leaders from these groups became chief ministers and shaped the politics of the northern states.

Step 5: Role 4: Change in the party system:
Parties of all colours now compete for OBC votes, so caste has become important in election politics, and the power of earlier dominant groups has weakened.

Final Answer:
OBCs changed Indian politics through the Mandal reservation, demand for social justice, rise of OBC based parties and new vote bank politics.