Now the term of the panel will be till July 31 2020. This is the 8th extension given to the commission, whose term would otherwise have expired on January 31, 2020.
Approval was also granted to adding more Terms of Reference for the Commission to study various entries in the "Central List of OBCs and recommend correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription."
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar made an announcement to this effect after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Communities that are included in the existing OBC list but unable to get major benefits of OBC reservation for appointment in Central government posts and admissions in Central educational institutions are expected to benefit once the Commission's recommendations are implemented, Javadekar said.
"The Commission is likely to make recommendations for the benefit of such marginalized communities in the Central List of OBCs. The expenditure involved is related to the establishment and administration costs of the Commission, which would continue to be borne by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment," he said.
The orders for the term extension and addition of Terms of Reference will be notified in the official gazette in the form of a presidential order after receipt of approval from the President.
The Commission was constituted under Article 340 of the Constitution after the approval of the President on October 2, 2017. The Commission headed by Justice G. Rohini (retd) commenced functioning in October 2017 and has since interacted with all the states/UTs which have subcategorized OBCs, and the State Backward Classes Commissions.
The Commission had sought extension in term and more Terms of Reference as it required more time to submit its report since repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription etc appearing in the existing Central List of OBCs needed to be cleared.
( With inputs from IANS )