Published: 28 March 2026PIB / Newsgram / New Delhi TimesGovernance
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Assumes Charge as Chairperson of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) with effect from March 18, 2026. Simultaneously, Kiran Umesh Mahalle — former mayor of Amravati — joined as Member of the NCBC, succeeding Bhuvan Bhushan Kamal whose tenure ended on March 9, 2026. The development was announced formally in the PIB press release around late March 2026.
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti is a former Member of Parliament (Fatehpur constituency, UP) and previously served as Union Minister of State in the Ministries of Rural Development, and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. She belongs to the Nishad OBC community, and her appointment is being viewed as part of the BJP's outreach to non-Yadav OBC communities ahead of upcoming state elections.
The NCBC was established under the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, and was elevated to a constitutional body under Article 338B through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018. It advises the Government on the socio-economic development of backward classes, investigates complaints of rights denial, and submits annual reports to the President of India. Its jurisdiction includes recommending inclusion or exclusion of communities from the Central OBC list.
For Rajasthan, where OBC communities constitute a significant share of the population, the functioning of NCBC has direct implications for sub-categorisation debates, OBC reservations, and welfare scheme implementation.
0Mains angle
Q: Discuss the constitutional status and mandate of the National Commission for Backward Classes in the context of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's appointment as Chairperson.
Answer (50 words):
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, former MP from Fatehpur, assumed charge as NCBC Chairperson on March 18, 2026, with Kiran Umesh Mahalle joining as Member. Elevated to constitutional status under Article 338B via the 102nd Amendment of 2018, NCBC advises on OBC welfare, investigates rights violations, and reports annually to the President.
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Linked questionMedium
Under which Constitutional Amendment was the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) granted constitutional status?
Explanation · Correct answer BThe NCBC was elevated to a constitutional body under Article 338B through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018.
Frequently asked questions
Under which constitutional article was the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) established?
The NCBC was established as a constitutional body under Article 338B of the Indian Constitution, which was inserted by the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018. Prior to this, NCBC functioned as a statutory body. The 102nd Amendment gave it the same constitutional status as the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (Article 338) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Article 338A).
Who is Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and when did she assume charge as NCBC Chairperson?
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti is a former Member of Parliament from Fatehpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh and a former Union Minister of State. She assumed charge as Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on March 18, 2026.
What are the key functions of the NCBC?
The NCBC performs three main functions: (1) it advises the central and state governments on OBC welfare policies and socio-economic development; (2) it investigates complaints regarding denial of rights and safeguards of OBCs; and (3) it submits annual reports to the President of India on the implementation of safeguards and the state of OBC welfare.
What is the difference between OBC status determination before and after the 102nd Amendment?
Before the 102nd Amendment, the President (on advice of the Governor) could include communities in the OBC list for central and state purposes. After the 102nd Amendment, Article 342A was added, making it the President's power (for central list) and the Governor's power (for state list) to specify OBC communities, and the NCBC got constitutional status to advise on these inclusions/exclusions.
Why is NCBC relevant for RPSC RAS exam preparation?
NCBC is a key topic for RAS Paper-II (Indian Polity) and Paper-III (Social Issues). Exam questions frequently test Article 338B, the 102nd Constitutional Amendment, the distinction between NCBC (OBC body) and NCSC/NCST, the mandate of the commission, and appointments to it. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's appointment is a current affairs peg for these constitutional concepts.
