Question: How are the three recommendations of the Mandal Commission an effort to solve the problems of the ‘Other Backward Classes’ (OBCs) ? Analyse.
The correct answer:
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Reservation in Education: The Mandal Commission recommended that 27% of seats in higher education institutions be reserved for OBCs. This recommendation was aimed at addressing the lack of access to education for the OBCs, who had been historically disadvantaged and marginalized in terms of education opportunities. The reservation policy provided the OBCs with greater access to higher education and opportunities to improve their social and economic status. The policy also helped to create a more diverse and representative student population, which was a key objective of the commission.
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Reservation in Employment: The commission recommended that 27% of government jobs be reserved for OBCs. This recommendation was aimed at addressing the under-representation of OBCs in government jobs, which had been dominated by higher castes. The reservation policy helped to create greater job opportunities for the OBCs, who had been traditionally excluded from these positions due to their lower social status. The policy also helped to increase the representation of OBCs in the bureaucracy and other government institutions, which was a key objective of the commission.
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Social Justice: The Mandal Commission also recommended various measures to promote social justice for the OBCs, such as the provision of scholarships, stipends, and other forms of financial support for OBC students. The commission recognized that the OBCs faced discrimination and social exclusion, and these measures were aimed at addressing these issues. The commission also recommended that the government take steps to improve the economic conditions of the OBCs,
