Indian Muslim OBCs

In keeping with the Mandal Commission's recommendation only 84 out of the 172 Muslim castes have been included into the central Other Backward Classes list. Those who were included in the list have been unable to compete with the other constituents in the lists. There is thus a demand from the Muslim community for an amendment in the reservation policy. This paper analyses the rationale behind the demand for reservation and the interlocking arguments and counterarguments. It also attempts to look at the activities of the pressure groups that shaped the demand for reservation by backward Muslims.