Sociology · Sociology of Indian Society
Chapter 10 : BACKWARD CASTES/CLASSES [OBCs] THEIR PROBLEMS AND WELFARE
Table of contents28 sections
- 1.BACKWARD CASTES/CLASSES [OBCs] THEIR PROBLEMS AND WELFARE
- 2.Introduction and Concept of Backward Classes
- 3.Definitions of Backward Classes
- 4.Description of the Backward Classes
- 5.Constitutional Provisions Regarding Backward Classes
- 6.Key Terms
- 7.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 8.Appointment of Backward Classes Commissions
- 9.First Backward Classes Commission (1953): Kalelkar Commission
- 10.Second Backward Classes Commission (1979): Mandal Commission
- 11.Historic Judgement of the Supreme Court (15-11-1992) and Its Impact
- 12.Key Terms
- 13.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 14.Arguments For and Against Reservation
- 15.Merits vs. Demerits of Reservation
- 16.Conclusion and Suggestions for Improvement
- 17.Key Terms
- 18.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 19.Problems of Backward Castes / Classes and Mainly OBCs
- 20.Key Terms
- 21.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 22.Various Schemes and Measures for the Welfare of the Backward Castes (Particularly OBCs)
- 23.1. National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
- 24.2. Various Schemes Launched (1998-99)
- 25.3. Reservation Facility to the Backward Classes
- 26.Key Terms
- 27.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 28.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
BACKWARD CASTES/CLASSES [OBCs] THEIR PROBLEMS AND WELFARE
Introduction and Concept of Backward Classes
India's backwardness is intrinsically linked to its primary form of social stratification: the caste system. The core disadvantage is that social status is ascribed by birth into specific castes and tribal groups.
- B. Kuppuswamy (1975) argues that the problem of the Indian majority can only be understood through the basic character of Indian society, which consists of a multitude of closed status groups with unequal ranks, privileges, and disabilities supported by traditional sanctions.
- Verbatim Quote: "....... only in terms of the basic character of Indian society which consists of a multitude of closed status groups with unequal ranks, each with its own privileges and disabilities supported by traditional sanctions. Thus it must be recognized at the outset that the term class is not appropriate since that term is associated with an economic category and indicates an open status group. By contrast, the backward classes in India form an aggregate of closed status groups; they belong to these groups by birth, not because of their individual economic characteristics."
| Concept | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Class | Associated with an economic category; indicates an open status group. |
| Backward Classes (in India) | An aggregate of closed status groups; membership is by birth, not individual economic characteristics; supported by traditional sanctions. |
- Historical Usage: The British Government used the concept of "backward classes" to refer to the most "backward castes" as early as 1885 in its "Port Saint George Gazette" dated 5th November 1885.
- M.N. Srinivas states that in the Indian context, "backward classes" represents lower castes including the scheduled castes. Thus, the "backward classes movement" must be understood as the "backward castes movement."
- Demographics: The backward classes are a large, mixed category with unclear and elastic boundaries, comprising roughly one-third of the country's total population. According to the 1971 Census, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) form roughly 22% of the total population, while the "other backward classes" (OBCs) form a highly ambiguous residual category whose exact numbers are difficult to state.
Definitions of Backward Classes
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