New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC) as a constitutional body.
NSEBC will be replacing the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and had approved amending the Constitution and inserting Article 338B for setting up the new Commission.
The bill to provide constitutional status to the body will be introduced in Parliament.
The commission will comprise of a chairperson, a vice chairperson and three other members.
The Cabinet has also repealed the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 and dissolved the body that was constituted under it.
The move follows demands for constitutional status for the national commission for backward classes in order to allow it to hear the grievances of OBCs in the same manner that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes hear complaints.
NCBC was a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the act had come into effect on the 2nd April, 1993.
(With Agency inputs)
