States’ powers to ‘make’ own OBC lists restored, Bill okayed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

The government today gave its nod to a Constitution Amendment Bill which seeks to give power to states and UTs to make their own OBC lists, sources said. The sources said the Bill, which got the approval at the meeting of the Union Cabinet, which was chaired by the PM, would now be introduced in Parliament for passage in the ongoing session itself.

The Supreme Court had dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking review of the May 5 majority verdict, which ruled that the 102nd Constitution amendment took away states’ power to declare “Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC)” for grant of quota in jobs and admissions.

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted Article 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes, while 342A deals with powers of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC and power of Parliament to change the list.

Opposition parties had accused the Centre of assaulting the federal structure by taking away the power of the states to identify and list the OBCs.

School education scheme extended for 5 yrs

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved the continuation of the revised ‘Samagra Shiksha Scheme’ for school education for another five years
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the scheme would continue from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026. It would be called ‘Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2’
Financial outlay of Rs2,94,283.04 cr, which includes Central share of Rs1,85,398.32 crore, has been made to implement the scheme