The term Backward Classes (BC) is a constitutional concept in India, primarily referring to groups that are "socially and educationally backward" and have historically faced discrimination and disadvantage. It is a broad category that encompasses the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The concept originated from the constitutional mandate to ensure social justice and equality, allowing the state to make special provisions for their advancement.
The mechanism for special provisions is rooted in the Constitution of India, specifically Article 15(4), which permits the state to make special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens, and Article 16(4), which allows for reservation in appointments in favour of any backward class not adequately represented in state services. The President is empowered by Article 340 to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions of these classes and make recommendations. The First Backward Classes Commission (Kaka Kalelkar Commission) was appointed on January 29, 1953, under this article.
The concept is closely connected to the Mandal Commission (Second Backward Classes Commission), which submitted its report in 1980, recommending 27% reservation for OBCs in central government jobs. This was challenged in the landmark judgment of Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992), where the Supreme Court upheld the 27% reservation for OBCs but mandated the exclusion of the "creamy layer" and set a 50% ceiling on total reservations. The judgment also directed the government to establish a permanent body to handle the inclusion and exclusion of backward classes.
The most significant recent change was the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018, which granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) by inserting Article 338B. This Act also inserted Article 342A, empowering the President to specify the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) for a state or union territory in consultation with the Governor. This amendment was followed by the 105th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2021, which restored the power of state governments to prepare their own list of SEBCs for state-level purposes, after a Supreme Court ruling had limited this power.