The Mandal Commission was set up in 1979 by the Government of India under the chairmanship of B.P. Mandal. Its main objective was to identify the socially and economically backward classes (OBCs) in India and recommend ways to provide them with affirmative action for their advancement in society. The Commission’s report, submitted in 1980, proposed the reservation of 27\% of government jobs for OBCs, a recommendation that sparked significant political and social debates.