• Presently, the reservations in public employment made available to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) cumulatively are 37%  and 45 % in Punjab and  West Bengal respectively.

• An increase in the reservation quota for OBCs will adhere to the Supreme Court's ceiling of up to 50% reservation in the Indra Sawhney case for socially and educationally backward classes.

About National Commission for Backward Classes(NCBC)

• The NCBC was set up as a statutory body under the NCBC Act, 1993.
• It has been accorded Constitutional Status through 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 with insertion of Article 338B.
• The commission consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members whose conditions of service and tenure of office are decided by the President.
• NCBC investigates and monitors all matters related to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes.

• The Commission will advise the Central Government on OBC inclusion/exclusion requests from state or central governments.
• To present report to the President, annually and at such other times as the commission may deem fit.
  • If the Government does not agree with its recommendation, it must record its reasons.