Question : INCLUSION OF CASTES IN OBC LIST

(a) whether the Government has since agreed for inclusion of Mahisya and other castes in OBC list;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether these castes specially Mahisya were not included in the recommendations made by the Mandal Commission for OBC category;

(d) if so, the grounds on which these castes have been recognized as OBC;

(e) whether the Government has made any assessment about the adverse effect on the other castes which have already been included in OBC list on the basis of the recommendations of Mandal Commission; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT(SMT. SUBBULAKSHMI JAGADEESAN)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) 4582 castes/communities (including synonyms) from different States/UTs have so far been included in the Central list of OBCs, details of which are available on the website of NCBC (www.ncbc.nic.in).

(c) Mahisya caste appears in the Mandal list for the States of Assam, Bihar and Meghalaya.

(d) Since Mahisya caste was common in both Mandal list and State list for Assam, it has been included in the Central list of OBCs for Assam.

(e) No, Sir.

(f) Does not arise.