Constitutional Provisions of National Commission For Backward Classes

The constitutional provisions of NCBC are given below that include the articles of the Indian constitution

• Article 340 of the Indian constitution provides for the appointment of a Commission delegated with the responsibility to investigate the poor conditions of backward classes. It also provides inputs on how their conditions can be improved. The National Commission of Other Backward Classes was composed by the President by exercising this article.
• By the 102nd Constitutional Amendment ActConstitutional Amendment Act of 2018, Article 338B was incorporated into the constitution of India. The National Commission of Other Backward Classes was bestowed with a constitutional status with this amendment. The President’s assent to the 123rd constitutional amendment bill of 2017, made it possible for the commission to be accorded such a status. Previously, it acted as a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The amendment delineated the structure, functions, and objectives of the commission. Earlier, the commission was constituted under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, of into1993. Before the amendment, the commission was not empowered to hear the grievances of the backward classes.
• Article 342A was also incorporated in the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act. It empowered the President to entitle or recognize any caste as a part of a socially and educationally backward class. However, it is mandatory to get prior parliamentary approval for the addition or deletion of any community.

National Commission For Backward Classes: Besides the communities that fall under scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, there are some socially and educationally deprived groups referred to as the other backward classes. It was observed that this community bears the brunt of being socially exploited and does not have full accessibility to educational opportunities. For the upliftment of the other backward classes, the Indian government established a national commission for the other backward classes on 14th August 1993. The commission came into the establishment after the Supreme Court’s on the Indra Sawhney vs Union of India case.

The primary function of National Commission For Backward Classes is the protection and promotion of the interests of other backward classes. In addition, the socially and educationally disadvantaged communities have special provisions safeguarding their interests in the Indian constitution. The latest data (2004-2005) by the National Sample Survey Organisation cities that OBCs constitute about 41 percent of the population.

In this article, we have provided every detail on National Commission For Backward Classes (NCBC), including its members, historical events, Constitutional Provisions, duties, powers, and functions of NCBC.