Mamata-Era OBC Expansion Under Lens as Bengal Cuts Quota to 7%, Restores 66-Caste List Amid Political Scrutiny

The West Bengal government has carried out a major restructuring of its OBC framework, cutting the reservation quota from 17 per cent to 7 per cent. It has also restricted the list to 66 castes. The decision was taken in the first cabinet meeting held on May 18.

The move marks one of the most significant corrections to the state’s reservation architecture in recent years. It directly dismantles the expanded classification system introduced over the past decade and signals a return to a narrower eligibility framework.

Officials say the exercise is not just administrative. It reflects compliance with a binding judicial order and a recalibration of how backward class status is defined in the state.

High Court ruling becomes the turning point

The restructuring is rooted in a 2024 Calcutta High Court judgment. The court struck down the inclusion of 77 castes added between 2010 and 2012. It ruled that the process lacked legal validity and was unconstitutional.

The judgment also invalidated the OBC-A and OBC-B classification system that had been in place. That structure had split beneficiaries into two categories, with 10 per cent reservation for OBC-A and 7 per cent for OBC-B.

Following the ruling, nearly 1.2 million OBC certificates issued after 2010 were cancelled. The court’s intervention effectively forced a comprehensive reset of the state’s backward class list.

Return to pre-2010 framework

Under the new system, only communities included in the OBC list before 2010 will continue to retain their status. The government has made it clear that this cut-off will guide eligibility going forward.

At the same time, authorities have confirmed that existing government employees who secured jobs under the earlier quota system will not be affected. This decision has been taken to avoid administrative disruption and legal complications in ongoing service records.

The earlier structure, which allowed rapid expansion of the list over a short period, has now been completely dismantled.

End of OBC-A and OBC-B classification

One of the most significant structural changes is the complete removal of the OBC-A and OBC-B system. This model had been introduced to differentiate between relatively backward and more backward groups within the broader OBC category.

With the new order, that distinction no longer exists. The state has moved to a single consolidated list of 66 castes, removing the layered classification that had defined the earlier policy.

This shift also effectively rolls back the expansion-driven approach that significantly widened the OBC umbrella during the previous regime.

Fresh scrutiny over past inclusion practices

The revised list has reopened debate over how caste inclusion decisions were taken during the expansion phase. While reservation in India is constitutionally based on socio-economic backwardness and not religion, questions have resurfaced over the nature and scale of additions made during 2010–2012.

Communities such as Hajjam, Chaudhuli and Paharia Muslim groups continue to appear in the revised list of 66 castes, along with several occupational and traditionally marginalised groups.

Officials maintain that these classifications were based on socio-economic indicators rather than religious identity. However, the expansion period is now under renewed administrative and political scrutiny, particularly after the judicial reversal of a large portion of those additions.

Review mechanism and possible future changes

Minister of State Agnimitra Paul has stated that the government will not treat the current list as final. A dedicated review committee will reassess the OBC framework in detail.

The committee will examine classifications already clarified by judicial findings. It will also review whether any groups require reconsideration under proper legal procedures.

The government has left open the possibility of future inclusion, but only after a structured review and compliance with constitutional requirements.

Communities retained in the revised list

The current list of 66 castes includes a wide range of traditional and occupational communities. These include Kurmi, Kapali, Karmakar, Sutradhar, Tanti, Dhanuk, Kasai, Khandait, Turha, Devanga, Goala, Nai (Napit), and several others.

These groups form the core of the revised framework that now replaces the earlier expanded structure.

Seven major cabinet decisions alongside quota overhaul

Alongside the reservation reset, the cabinet approved a broader governance package covering recruitment, welfare, and administrative reform.

The upper age limit for state government jobs has been increased by five years. It now stands at 41 years for Group A posts, 44 years for Group B, and 45 years for Group C and D posts. The change will apply from May 11.

Two judicially headed commissions have also been formed. One panel, led by retired judge Justice Biswajit Basu, will investigate allegations of corruption in state schemes and public projects. The second, headed by Justice Sampati Chatterjee, will probe cases of atrocities against women, children, SC/ST communities and minority groups. Complaint mechanisms are expected to be introduced through digital platforms.

The government has also discontinued religious honorariums for imams, muezzins and priests starting June 1. Earlier monthly payments included ₹3,000 for imams and ₹2,000 for others.

A new welfare scheme, Annapurna Yojana, has been launched, under which women will receive ₹3,000 per month from June 1. Beneficiaries of the Lakshmi Bhandaar scheme will be automatically migrated without fresh applications.

Women will also be allowed free travel on state-run buses from June 1. However, there is no immediate plan to increase bus capacity.

Finally, the cabinet has approved the formation of the 7th State Pay Commission, which will revise salaries for government employees, municipal staff, education boards, and state institutions. A formal notification on its structure and timeline is expected soon.

Conclusion: A structured reset in policy direction

Taken together, the decisions reflect a broader restructuring of governance priorities in West Bengal. The government has aligned its reservation framework with judicial directions while simultaneously expanding its administrative and welfare agenda.

The shift marks a transition from an expanded classification model to a more restricted and legally anchored structure, setting the tone for future policy recalibration in the state.