With reference to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), consider the following statements: 1. It is a constitutional body under Article 338B. 2. Article 338B was inserted by the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018. 3. Its recommendations regarding inclusion/exclusion from the Central OBC list are binding on the Central Government. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct because Article 338B provides for a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes known as the National Commission for Backward Classes, and the official Constitution text notes that this article was inserted by the Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018. Statement 3 is incorrect because Article 338B treats the Commission's recommendations as recommendations, not binding commands: reports are laid before Parliament with a memorandum explaining action taken or proposed, and the reasons for non-acceptance, if any. That structure confirms an advisory constitutional role, even though the Commission has defined duties and civil-court powers for investigations and complaints.

Why the other options are wrong

• (B) It omits statement 1, although Article 338B itself establishes the National Commission for Backward Classes as a constitutional body.
• (C) It includes statement 3, but Article 338B provides for action-taken memoranda and reasons for non-acceptance, showing that recommendations are not binding.
• (D) It treats all three statements as correct, while the claim that NCBC recommendations on the Central OBC list bind the Central Government is not supported.

Concept

This tests constitutional bodies and the effect of the 102nd Constitutional Amendment on backward-class institutions. It recurs in RAS because questions often turn on the difference between constitutional status, advisory recommendations, and binding governmental action.

Source

• Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, The Constitution of India (Second Diglot Edition)

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