NCBC slams Kerala government over OBC quota for Muslims and Christians

New Delhi : The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has strongly objected to the Kerala government’s move to extend Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation benefits to Muslims and Christians, calling it a “religion-based quota for political gain.”

NCBC chairperson Hans Raj Ahir said the Kerala government had failed to clarify what socio-economic survey or data supported the inclusion of these religious groups under the OBC category. “Reservation cannot be granted purely on religious grounds. It must be based on the identification of socially and educationally backward communities within a religion,” Ahir asserted.

He added that the move appeared to be politically motivated rather than constitutionally justified, warning that such religion-centric policies could undermine the fundamental principles of social justice.

The NCBC has sought a detailed report from the Kerala government explaining the rationale behind the decision and directed it to submit the report within 15 days.

Ahir also emphasized that the OBC quota system must be implemented properly in local body elections. “We have recommended that the state ensure fair application of OBC reservation in municipal and panchayat polls,” he said.

The controversy comes amid ongoing debates in Kerala about including certain Muslim and Christian groups in the state’s OBC list. Critics have argued that the move dilutes the benefits meant for genuinely backward Hindu and tribal communities, while supporters claim it promotes minority inclusion.

NCBC’s intervention now puts the Kerala government under pressure to defend its policy and justify the socio-economic grounds for the inclusion.