Mandal Commission

The Mandal Commission, established in India in 1979, aimed to identify socially and educationally backward classes to ensure they received government benefits like job reservations and educational opportunities. Led by B.P. Mandal, the commission recommended reserving 27% of government jobs for OBCs (Other Backward Classes) in addition to existing reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The recommendations sparked significant debate and protest over issues of merit, social justice, and the impact on society, ultimately shaping India's affirmative action policies and discussions around caste and equity in education and employment.