Union Cabinet approves OBC expansion list

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved expansion of the central list of the other backward classes (OBCs) to include more castes and communities from 14 states and two union territories. The states in which this expansion has been cleared on the recommendation of the National Commission for Backward Classes include Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

The official announcement did not specify the benefited castes but said the exercise will be completed with the follow- up action by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to amend the respective central lists. Their inclusion in the central list would enable them to avail the benefits of reservation in Central Government services and posts as well as in the Central education institutions, thus contributing to the goal of equality and inclusiveness, the announcement said.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) raised by more than 60 per cent the post matric scholarships to scheduled tribe students with retrospective effect from July 1, 2010 and revised the eligibility criteria to extend the scheme to wards of parents and guardians whose annual income is Rs 2 lakhs instead of Rs 1.45 lakhs.

Besides revision of maintenance and other allowances to enable the ST students pursue their studies in the recognised institutions, the courses for which the scholarship is available have also been regrouped. Courses have been divided into four groups. The revised scholarship at the highest level for the professional courses group is Rs 550 per month instead of Rs 330 in case of day scholars and Rs 1200 instead of Rs 740 for the hostlers.

Similar revision in other groups is: Rs 530 instead of Rs 330 for day scholars and Rs 820 instead of Rs 510 for hostlers in Group II, Rs 300 instead of Rs 185 for day scholars and Rs 570 instead of Rs 355 for hostlers in Group III and Rs 230 instead of Rs 140 for day scholars and Rs 380 instead of Rs 235 for hostlers in Group IV. Their book grant for correspondence courses is raised from Rs 750 to Rs 1200 per annum, while the annual study tour charges are revised from Rs 1000 to Rs 1600 and thesis typing and printing charger per annum from Rs 1000 to Rs 1600.