(a) whether the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended for
reservation in promotions in Central Government services for all the OBCs;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to provide reservation in promotions in Central
Government services for all the OBCs?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI P. BALRAM NAIK)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): On reference received from the Ministry of Personnel, Pubic Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training), NCBC had recommended that due to various reasons
there are many communities among the OBCs whose social backwardness is much worse than
some of the Scheduled Castes (SCs). The NCBC, therefore, recommended that the OBCs must
be treated at par with SCs and STs in the matter of entry into public services and the
advantage of reservation in promotions should be extended to them.
(c): The Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances,
Law & Justice in its report in 2005 on the reservation Bill, namely, the Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation in Posts and Services) Bill, 2004
had recommended on the issue of reservation to OBCs in promotions that to meet the
constitutional obligation to provide adequate representation to these classes, the Government
should consider extending reservation to the members of OBCs in promotions also and bring an
amendment to the Constitution to give effect to this proposal.
The recommendations of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee was considered
and it was felt that the condition of OBCs is very different from that of the SCs/STs both in
terms of Constitutional provisions as well as ground realities.