Consider the following statements with regard to the setting up of the Backward Class Commission in India:

1. The First Backward Class Commission, set up by the Government of India, is popularly known as Kaka Kalelkar Commission.

2. The Third Backward Class Commission, set up by the Government of India, is popularly known as Mandal Commission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

• The First Backward Class Commission, set up in 1953, is popularly known as the Kaka Kalelkar Commission, chaired by Kaka Kalelkar.
• The Commission was established to determine the criteria for identifying backward classes and recommend measures for their upliftment.
• The Third Backward Class Commission, commonly referred to as the Mandal Commission, was set up in 1979 under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal.
• The Mandal Commission recommended reservation of 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in government jobs and educational institutions, leading to significant socio-political impact.
• Both statements in the question are correct, as they accurately identify the popular names and purposes of the two commissions.

Additional Information

• Backward Class Commission:
  • The Constitution of India empowers the President under Article 340 to appoint a commission to investigate conditions of socially and educationally backward classes.
  • The objective is to recommend steps to improve their conditions, ensuring equality and justice.
• Kaka Kalelkar Commission (1953):
  • This was the first commission formed to identify backward classes in India.
  • Its report emphasized caste-based criteria but faced criticism for lack of specific recommendations.
• Mandal Commission (1979):
  • Established by the Janata Party government to address the issue of caste-based inequalities.
  • Its findings led to the implementation of OBC reservations in 1990 during Prime Minister V.P. Singh’s tenure.
  • The Mandal Commission identified 3743 castes as socially and educationally backward.
• Impact of Mandal Commission:
  • The recommendations triggered widespread protests and debates on affirmative action policies in India.
  • It reshaped Indian politics, with reservation policies becoming a central issue.