Cabinet clears quota for minorities within OBC

New Delhi: The cabinet on Thursday approved 4.5 percent quota for minorities within the larger 27 percent quota for the Other backward Classes (OBC) in central government jobs and educational institutions, informed sources said.

The cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared the proposal ahead of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and four other states.

"The cabinet has approved the carving out of a sub-quota of 4.5 percent for minorities, as defined under section 2 (C) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 from within the 27 percent reservation for OBC," the sources said.

4.5 per cent quota out of current OBC quota of 27 per cent has been cleared for minorities.

"The castes/communities of the said minorities, which are included in the central list of OBCs notified state-wise from time to time by the ministry of social justice and empowerment shall be covered by this sub-quota," they said.

It will come into effect from Jan 1, 2012.

The proposal was based on a recommendation of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

(With additional inputs from IANS)

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