Analyse any three factors that led to the rise of ‘Other Backward Classes’ (OBCs) in Indian Politics ?

The rise of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Indian politics is a significant development that has changed the political landscape of the country. The OBCs are a diverse group of socially and economically disadvantaged castes and communities that have traditionally been excluded from political power and representation. Here are three factors that led to the rise of the OBCs in Indian politics:

1. The Mandal Commission Report: The Mandal Commission was constituted in 1979 to identify the socially and educationally backward classes in India and recommend measures to improve their status. The Commission’s report, submitted in 1980, recommended that a quota of 27% of government jobs and educational institutions be reserved for the OBCs. The report provided a platform for the OBCs to articulate their demands for greater political representation and social justice. The implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal Commission led to the emergence of OBC political leaders and parties that represented the interests of the OBCs.

2. The decline of the Congress Party: The decline of the Congress Party, which had dominated Indian politics for decades, created space for the emergence of regional and caste-based parties that represented the interests of the OBCs. The Congress Party’s focus on secularism and its failure to address the specific concerns of the OBCs led to a loss of support among this group. This created an opportunity for regional parties, such as the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, to gain political power and represent the interests of the OBCs.

3. Social and economic changes: The social and economic changes that took place in India in the post-independence period, such as the Green Revolution and the expansion of education and healthcare, created new opportunities for the OBCs to improve their economic and social status. The OBCs were able to take advantage of these opportunities and began to demand greater political representation and a share in the benefits of development. The rise of the OBCs was also fueled by the growth of a new middle class among this group, which provided them with greater political and economic power.

In summary, the rise of the OBCs in Indian politics was driven by a combination of factors, including the Mandal Commission Report, the decline of the Congress Party, and social and economic changes. These factors created a space for the OBCs to demand greater political representation and social justice and led to the emergence of OBC political leaders and parties that represented their interests.