Indian Govt. announces 27 percent OBC quota in educational institutions from June 2007

The UPA government has announced its decision to implement 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in educational institutions under the purview of the central government from the next academic session commencing in June 2007.

The government had also decided to increase the number of seats in these educational institutions in order to meet the aspirations for opportunities for higher education of all sections of the student community, Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee announced in New Delhi after a three–and–a–half hour long meeting between the UPA Co–ordination Committee and the Left parties, May 24.

Legislation to provide 27 percent reservation to OBCs will be brought before Parliament in the Monsoon session, he indicated.

An Oversight Committee will be constituted to draw up a time–bound roadmap for implementing these decisions.

Smaller groups consisting of deans, directors and vice–chancellors of the institutions concerned will be constituted to work out the details for each class of institutions.

The Oversight Committee will put together the recommendations of these groups and submit a comprehensive report by August 31, 2006.

The high–level ministerial meeting was attended by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, and CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan, among others.