Latest news with #OtherBackwardClasses
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Caste Census Key to Social Justice, Says Youth Welfare President Khalid Naveed
Mahabubnagar: Social activist Khalid Naveed, President of Youth Welfare Mahabubnagar, has welcomed the proposed national caste census by the central government as a crucial step towards ensuring social justice and equality in India. In a press statement, he emphasized that for decades, caste data collection has been limited to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, leaving Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and other marginalized communities underrepresented in policymaking. 'The caste census will provide accurate socio-economic data, allowing the government to better target welfare schemes and reservations,' Naveed stated. He noted that existing programs often fail to reach the most disadvantaged due to intersecting inequalities of caste, gender, geography, and poverty. Following the release of Bihar's caste census in 2023, which revealed that OBCs and Extremely Backward Classes made up over 63% of the state's population, several states including Telangana initiated similar surveys. This created momentum for a nationwide caste census, now backed by the Central Government—a significant policy shift after 70 years. Naveed also referenced the 1980 Mandal Commission, which advocated for OBC reservations but lacked updated caste data. Similarly, the 2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census was never fully published, drawing criticism from scholars and activists. While critics argue the census might deepen caste divisions, Naveed stressed that a transparent and accurate caste enumeration would promote fair representation, help recalibrate reservation policies, and ensure that affirmative action reaches those who need it most.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Check Solapur civic chief Ombase's OBC non-creamy layer certificate: Centre to state
Mumbai: The central government has asked Maharashtra's chief secretary Sujata Saunik to verify the authenticity of the Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) certificate of Solapur municipal commissioner Sachin Ombase, after social activist Vijay Kumbhar claimed that the 2015-batch IAS officer fraudulently acquired it to be eligible for more attempts to clear the civil services examination. Check Solapur civic chief Ombase's OBC non-creamy layer certificate: Centre to state Kumbhar on Monday posted a photo of the letter sent by Anshuman Mishra, under secretary to the Indian government, to Saunik regarding the activist's complaint that Ombase had used a fake OBC-NCL certificate while giving the civil services exam in 2014. Ombase 'illegally' obtained the certificate 'by hiding facts, submitting false info, and pressuring officials,' Kumbhar wrote on X. Saunik confirmed that Maharashtra's general administration department (services) had received the letter. The controversy comes a year after Puja Khedkar, a former IAS probationary officer at the Pune district collectorate, was accused of forging disability and OBC-NCL certificates to gain extra attempts in the civil services examination. According to Kumbhar, Ombase had made four failed attempts to clear the civil services examination in the general category, after which he obtained a non-creamy layer category OBC certificate in order to be eligible for more attempts. He eventually cleared the exam in the fifth attempt. 'His father was a professor. How could he fall in the non-creamy layer category? In those days, four attempts were allowed for general category aspirants and those from the OBC category were allowed seven attempts. Ombase cleared his civil services in the fifth attempt. After exhausting four attempts, he applied under the OBC category,' said Kumbhar. When contacted, Ombase said that he will submit his explanation to the government when asked. He has earlier served as the collector of Dharashiv district and the chief executive officer of the Wardha zilla parishad.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Academicians seek extension of deadline for submitting OBC certificates to DU
Jun 23, 2025 05:26 AM IST Academicians and former members of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission have appealed to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to direct Delhi university to extend the deadline for submitting OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificates by 15-20 days, citing administrative delays that cost hundreds of students their admissions each year. Academicians seek extension of deadline for submitting OBC certificates to DU In a letter to the UGC Chairman, Anand Prakash, members of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) executive and former member of the commission for OBC, Delhi, along with other signatories, highlighted how students from rural and underprivileged backgrounds often miss admission deadlines due to delays in obtaining updated caste certificates from local authorities. 'Each year, a large number of students, particularly those from rural and underprivileged backgrounds, are denied admission solely due to the non-availability of the current year's OBC certificate at the time of document submission/verification,' the letter said. The signatories, including Ashok Kumar (former DUTA executive member) and Ram Kishore Yadav (member, academic council), wrote that nearly 10% of eligible OBC students lose admission opportunities annually due to this issue. 'Such a provision will ensure fair and equitable access to education for OBC students and minimise dropout or rejection rates due to procedural delays,' the letter added. When contacted, UGC officials did not respond to a request for comment.
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Business Standard
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Polling underway in 3,894 Gujarat gram panchayats under new OBC quota
As many as 3,894 gram panchayats went to polls in Gujarat on Sunday in the first such exercise after the state government announced 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local bodies elections in 2023. The State Election Commission (SEC) said 81 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect 3,656 sarpanchs and 16,224 panchayat members. People queued up in large numbers in rural Gujarat to cast their votes using ballot papers across 10,479 polling stations. Polling has been largely peaceful, with a few incidents of violence, and people turned up to vote despite the rains in parts of the state. In a village in Banaskantha district, a 95-year-old woman arrived to exercise her franchise with her grandson amid heavy rains. Police personnel assisted the elderly and differently-abled voters. Kheda MLA Arjunsinh Chauhan and former Tharad MLA Gujlabsinh Rajput were among the early voters. "Panchayat is an important pillar of democracy, so the right candidate should win the elections. I would appeal to people to record 100 per cent voting," Chauhan said. An incident of violence was reported in Panchmahal district, where the son of a sarpanch candidate was attacked by rival groups in Dhanitra village and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The counting of votes will take place on June 25. The SEC has identified 3,939 polling stations as sensitive and 336 as highly sensitive. Out of 8,326 gram panchayats, for which elections were declared on May 25, general and mid-term polls are being held for 3,541, and bypolls for 353 panchayats. As many as 1,023 gram panchayats have been declared uncontested and vacant with no candidate filing nomination, the SEC said. The SEC said gram panchayat polls in six talukas under the Kadi and Visavadar assembly seats were cancelled due to by-elections held there on Thursday. Gram panchayat elections are usually not contested on party lines. Candidates do not fight on party tickets, though they may be affiliated with political parties. This is the first time that elections are being held on a big scale in Gujarat after the state government in August 2023 announced a 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in panchayats, municipalities and civic corporations on recommendations of the Zaveri Commission's report. Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies was capped at 10 per cent. After the Supreme Court ruled that the OBC reservation should be proportionate to their population, the state government, in July 2022, set up the KS Jhaveri Commission to gather and analyse data on the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies. The existing quota for Scheduled Castes (14 per cent) and Scheduled Tribes (7 per cent) in local bodies remained unchanged, and there has been no breach of the 50 per cent reservation ceiling. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Polling underway in 3,894 gram panchayats in Gujarat
As many as 3,894 gram panchayats went to the polls in Gujarat on Sunday (June 22, 2025) in the first such exercise after the state government announced 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the local bodies elections in 2023. The State Election Commission (SEC) said 81 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect 3,656 sarpanchs and 16,224 panchayat members. People queued up in large numbers in rural Gujarat to cast their votes using ballot papers across 10,479 polling stations. Polling has been largely peaceful, with a few incidents of violence, and people turned up to vote despite the rains in parts of the state. In a village in Banaskantha district, a 95-year-old woman arrived to exercise her franchise with her grandson amid heavy rains. Police personnel assisted the elderly and differently-abled voters. Kheda MLA Arjunsinh Chauhan and former Tharad MLA Gujlabsinh Rajput were among the early voters. "Panchayat is an important pillar of democracy, so the right candidate should win the elections. I would appeal to people to record 100 per cent voting," Chauhan said. An incident of violence was reported in Panchmahal district, where the son of a sarpanch candidate was attacked by rival groups in Dhanitra village and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The counting of votes will take place on June 25. The SEC has identified 3,939 polling stations as sensitive and 336 as highly sensitive. Out of 8,326 gram panchayats, for which elections were declared on May 25, general and mid-term polls are being held for 3,541, and bypolls for 353 panchayats. As many as 1,023 gram panchayats have been declared uncontested and vacant with no candidate filing nomination, the SEC said. The SEC said gram panchayat polls in six talukas under the Kadi and Visavadar assembly seats were cancelled due to by-elections held there on Thursday. Gram panchayat elections are usually not contested on party lines. Candidates do not fight on party tickets, though they may be affiliated with political parties. This is the first time that elections are being held on a big scale in Gujarat after the state government in August 2023 announced a 27% reservation for OBCs in panchayats, municipalities and civic corporations on recommendations of the Zaveri Commission's report. Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies was capped at 10 per cent. After the Supreme Court ruled that the OBC reservation should be proportionate to their population, the state government, in July 2022, set up the KS Jhaveri Commission to gather and analyse data on the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies. The existing quota for Scheduled Castes (14%) and Scheduled Tribes (7%) in local bodies remained unchanged, and there has been no breach of the 50% reservation ceiling.
