The BJP government in Gujarat on Tuesday announced a 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in local bodies like panchayats, municipalities and civic corporations on the basis of a commission’s report, paving the way for polls in these self-governing institutes.
However, in areas notified under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act — most of them with substantial tribal population — the reservation for OBCs in local bodies will continue to be 10 per cent. Also, the existing quota for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes remain unchanged and there has been no breach of the 50 per cent reservation ceiling, the Gujarat government said.
Earlier, OBC reservation in local bodies was 10 per cent in Gujarat.