Question

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The First Backward Class Commission was established under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar.

2. The Second Backward Class Commission was established under the chairmanship of Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal.

3. The Supreme Court upheld the 27% reservation for OBCs in the Indira Sawhney case.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : 1, 2 and 3

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

The First Backward Class Commission:

• The First Backward Class Commission under the chairmanship of social reformer Kaka Kalelkar was set up in January 1953. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• The commission submitted its report in March 1955.
• It listed 2,399 backward castes or communities, with 837 of them classified as ‘most backward’.
• It was never implemented.

The Second Backward Class Commission

• The Second Backward Class Commission was established under the chairmanship of Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal in January 1979. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• Mandal commission submitted its report on December 31, 1980.
• Prime Minister V P Singh in 1990 announced in the Parliament that the recommendations of the Mandal Commission would be implemented.
• The announcement witnessed violent protests all over India, especially in northern and western India.

Indira Sawhney Case

• The issue of OBC reservation reached the Supreme Court in 1992. This case is known as the ‘Indira Sawhney Judgment’ or Mandal Case.
• The Supreme Court upheld the 27% reservation for OBCs but also stated that the only caste was not an indicator of social and educational backwardness. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
• To ensure that the benefits of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission percolated down to the most backward communities, the creamy layer criteria was invoked.
• The creamy layer in India at present is 8 lac/annum.