Question

Why was Mandal Commission formed ?

• A. To find out the causes of Poverty.
• B. To find out the number of Dalits.
• C. To find out the area of educational and social backwardness.
• D. None of the above

Hint:

The Mandal Commission is synonymous with the issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in India. Its recommendations, when implemented in 1990, led to significant political and social changes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for the primary mandate or purpose of the Mandal Commission.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Mandal Commission, officially known as the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (SEBC), was established by the Janata Party government in India in 1979.
Its primary mandate was to identify the criteria for defining India's "socially and educationally backward classes" and to recommend steps to be taken for their advancement.
Let's analyze the options:
(A) Its focus was on backwardness, not poverty in general, although the two are often linked.
(B) Its focus was not on Dalits (Scheduled Castes), as they were already covered under existing reservation policies. The commission's focus was on what came to be known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
(C) This option accurately describes the commission's purpose. It was tasked with identifying the extent ("area") of social and educational backwardness among the Indian populace and suggesting remedies. Its most famous recommendation was the implementation of 27\% reservation for OBCs in government jobs and public universities.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Mandal Commission was formed to identify and study the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes in India.
Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer.