Question

Mandal commission is termed as:
A. First Backward Classes Commission
B. Second Backward Classes Commission
C. Third Backward Classes Commission
D. Schedule tribe commission

Answer 1

Hint:
After India got independence, affirmative action started for the depressed classes. It also started for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes providing the benefits to the most backward and socially ostracized of India’s communities. But, there were no benefits or even a list of the country’s other backward classes.

Complete answer:
The Mandal Commission is popular as the second backward class commission. Janata Party government established this commission on 1st January 1979. At that time Prime Minister was Moraji Desai. The commission was then established in order to address the question of caste discrimination.
The Commission was chaired by an MP known as BP Mandal. The chief mandate of the Mandal Commission was to find out the socially or educationally backward classes of India. Also to consider the reservations as a means to address caste inequality and discrimination issues. The Commission handed over its report to the President on 31st December 1980.

Thus the correct option is B.

Additional Information:
The Commission reported that 52% of the country’s population is OBCs. The Commission argued that the percentage of reservation in government service should match this population percentage. But, this would have gone against the ruling of the Supreme Court of 50% reservation cap. Then reservation for OBCs was capped at 27%. The Commission also identified the backward classes among non-Hindus.

Note:
The commission developed mainly eleven criteria to identify the backward classes. These classes were termed as OBC. These criteria are classified as social, economic and educational.