"Parties Back Caste Census but Avoid OBC Quota Amendment"
Creamy layer
the economically and socially advanced section among OBCs excluded from reservation benefits
Triple test
judicial requirement of a backwardness commission, quantifiable data and the 50% cap for local body OBC quotas
Caste based reservation in India has deep roots. The British colonial government conducted caste census counts from 1871-72 to 1931. After independence, caste data collection stopped. The 1931 Census remains the last complete count of caste numbers in India. Both the Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1953), India's first Backward Classes Commission, and the Mandal Commission (1980) relied on this old 1931 data. They used it to recommend reservation policies. The Mandal Commission recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs. It based this on its finding that OBCs made up more than 52% of the population excluding SCs and STs. This recommendation was implemented only in 1990.
Reservation policy soon hit a constitutional limit. In Indra Sawhney v Union of India (1992), the Supreme Court capped total reservations for SC, ST and OBC at 50% of seats or posts. Exceptions were allowed only in extraordinary circumstances. This 50% ceiling has governed every reservation debate since. This includes the 103rd Constitutional Amendment (2019). It created a separate 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) outside this ceiling.
The demand for a new caste census grew because OBC organisations argue their true population share is far higher. They say current reservation levels do not reflect this. In April 2025, the Union government agreed to count OBCs in the Census. This came after an election in which the ruling party's seat count fell sharply. The main Opposition gained seats. A shift widely linked to the caste census debate caused this change.
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the administration of Scheduled Areas in certain states. The Sixth Schedule applies to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides for reservation of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. It has a sunset clause of 15 years from its commencement.
State governments that want to raise OBC reservation above existing limits must satisfy a judicially set 'triple test'. This is especially true in local body elections. First, they must set up a dedicated commission to study local backwardness. Second, they must use that commission's data to decide the exact proportion of reservation needed. Third, they must ensure total reservation for SC, ST and OBC together does not cross the 50% ceiling. Many states have failed this test. A court struck down a 27% OBC quota in local bodies in one state for this reason. A southern state's recent move to raise OBC reservation to 34% was also struck down. It did not meet these conditions.
OBC reservation levels vary widely across states. Local body reservation is a state subject within the overall 50% ceiling. Uttar Pradesh has 27% OBC reservation. …
The 50% ceiling on total reservations for SC, ST and OBC in India was laid down by the Supreme Court in which of the following cases?
Consider the following statements regarding the 'triple test' laid down by courts for granting OBC reservation in local body elections:
1.It requires setting up a dedicated commission to study local backwardness.
2.It requires using the commission's data to determine the exact proportion of reservation.
3.It permits total reservation for SC, ST and OBC combined to exceed 50% if backwardness data justifies it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to reservation policy in India, consider the following pairs:
Commission/Amendment — Associated Provision
1.Kaka Kalelkar Commission — First Backward Classes Commission
2.Mandal Commission — Recommended 27% OBC reservation
3.103rd Constitutional Amendment — Created 10% EWS reservation
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Which of the following statements about the 93rd Constitutional Amendment is/are correct?
1.It added a provision enabling reservation for OBCs in educational institutions.
2.It led to a law providing 27% OBC quota in central higher educational institutions.
3.The Supreme Court upheld this quota without any conditions.
Select the correct answer using the code below.
Under which Article of the Constitution can the President appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes?
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