OBC full form | OBC Category | Other Backward Classes
OBC full form is Other Backward Classes. OBC Category is one of the category of Indian Caste-Category system in which Government allows reservation to the candidates of OBC Category in Government exams, Institutions, Colleges and more. OBC Category is not a part of UR Category(Unreserved) as it is a reserved category. In this Blog we discuss about what is OBC Category, advantage, Disadvantage, and the list of castes come under OBC Category.
OBC full form in hindi is “अन्य पिछड़ा वर्ग”
What is OBC Category?
OBC Category means Other Backward Classes, As per Government this category is educationally & socially backward class. so that Government provide a reservation of 27% in Educational Institutions & Exams. This is the biggest advantage for the candidates of OBC Category as they get reservation in Government exams, and institutions.
Also OBC Category consist 41% of population in India, so we can say that OBC Category is the majority category in India. That’s one of the reason why there are more candidates of OBC Category we found in Government exams, Institutions and Colleges. Here are the table which shows the Population percentage for OBC all the categories.
| Religion/Caste | SCs | STs | OBCs | General / EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 22.2% | 5% | 40.8% | 28% |
| Islam | 0.0% | 0.5% | 39.2% | 59.5% |
| Christianity | 0.0% | 23.8% | 41.3% | 39.7% |
| Sikhism | 33.0% | 0.9% | 2.4% | 63.5% |
| Jainism | 0.0% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 94.3% |
| Buddhism | 89.5% | 7.4% | 0.4% | 2.7% |
| Zoroastrianism | 0.0% | 15.9% | 13.7% | 70.4% |
| Others | 2.6% | 82.5% | 6.25 | 8.7% |
| Total | 19.7% | 8.5% | 40.1% | 31.8% |
Advantages of OBC Category
Here are the main advantages for OBC Category Candidates:
Majority Populations
OBC Category consist of 41% of the total population in India, so this is the biggest category in India in terms of population. Which means there are many Candidates we can see in every exams, colleges and other work places.
Reservation
One of the Biggest Advantage for OBC Category is that they secure 27% reservation in Government exams, Institutions, Colleges and in jobs. So as compare to other categories like General Category OBC Category can get admissions and jobs in less cut off marks. Also the population is high in OBC Category so there will be a little competitions among there own category.
Great Politics Power
OBC category have a high population so in case of politicians there are majority of politicians belongs to OBC Category, so the people of these categories get benefits of politics power as well.
Disadvantages of OBC Category
Here are some major disadvantages for OBC Category:
Educationally and Socially Backward
As per Government the OBC Category is educationally and socially backward class that’s why government provide reservation for the people of OBC Category. Educationally and socially backward means the category which don’t have a good status in Society as well as less number of educated people in field of education.
List of Castes in OBC Category
Here is the list of castes come under OBC Category. In some cases it will be differ if Government passes a bill or amendments, otherwise here is the state wise list of castes under OBC Category as per Government reports.
The Creamy Layer Concept of OBC Category in India
The “creamy layer” is a term used in the Indian reservation system to identify members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who are considered economically and socially well-off enough to not require affirmative action benefits intended for socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The idea behind the concept is to ensure that these benefits reach the truly needy within the OBC category.
Here’s a breakdown of the concept:
- Objective: Exclude OBCs with higher economic and social standing from availing reservation benefits in education, government jobs, etc.
- Basis for Identification: Primarily income, but also factors like parental positions, and even agricultural land ownership (in some cases).
- Current Income Limit: As of 2024, individuals or families with a gross annual income exceeding Rs. 8 lakhs from non-agricultural sources for three consecutive years fall under the creamy layer.
- Controversy: Defining the creamy layer has been a contentious issue, with debates about the effectiveness of the income-based criteria and its potential to exclude deserving individuals.
Key Points to Consider:
- The creamy layer concept was introduced in the 1990s to address concerns about reservation benefits not reaching the most backward sections within the OBCs.
- The income limit has been revised several times over the years, most recently in 2014.
- Critics argue that the income-based criteria is inadequate and overlooks social and educational backwardness within families exceeding the limit.
- Proposals for a more nuanced approach to identifying the creamy layer, considering multiple factors, are ongoing.
Difference between General and OBC Category
As compare to general category OBC Category is much ahead in terms of benefits, so here is a comparison:
| Basis | General Category | OBC Category |
|---|---|---|
| Class Category | General Category to be recognized as a well educated and rich category. | OBC Category recognized as a backward class category. |
| Reservation | No Reservation for General Category | Have 27% Reservation in Government exams, institutions, Colleges, jobs etc. |
| Population | Consist of 31% of total population | Consist of 41% of Total population |
| Education | General category is more educated and well settled | In OBC Category there are still some persons who are not educated. |
Conclusion
OBC Category have majority population as well as reservation from the Government, so As compare to other categories, OBC Categories getting many benefits in every institutions, jobs, exams etc. And Nowadays OBC Category is a not a backward class as like before it is very stable and good class like general category also the numbers of educated person also increasing in OBC Category consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
1. What is OBC Category?
Ans: OBC Category means Other Backward Classes category which have a majority part of population of 41% in India but considered as Backward class by Government.
2. Which is better General Category and OBC?
Ans: As such there is no one better but if we see according to equality then OBC get more benefits from Government as compare to General Category.
3. Who comes under OBC Category?
Ans: The state wise list of caste under OBC Category is above which you can see.
4. What are the benefits of OBC Category?
Ans: OBC Category candidates secure 27% reservation in public/government exams, institutions, exams, jobs etc. Also there are many schemes offer by Government for OBC Category.
5. What is OBC Category full form?
Ans: The full form of OBC Category is Other backward classes.
