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The Gujarat Assembly, on 18 September 2023, approved a bill that reserves ____________ of local body seats specifically for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
20%
27%
30%
35%
27%
The Gujarat Assembly passed a bill on 18 September 2023 to provide 27 percent reservation for OBCs in local body elections.
The move by the Gujarat government followed the Supreme Court's directives regarding the necessity of conducting a rigorous empirical study to determine the backwardness of OBCs before providing quota benefits. This legislation aims to ensure political representation for the Other Backward Classes in Panchayats and Municipalities across the state. By formalizing this reservation, Gujarat aligned its local body election structure with the recommendations of the K.S. Chinubhai Commission. The decision reflects the broader national focus on enhancing inclusive governance at the grassroots level.
Reservation in local bodies is governed by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992. While these amendments mandated reservation for SCs and STs, they left the provision for OBC reservation to the discretion of the State Legislatures.
Date of approval: 18 September 2023
Reservation quota: 27 percent
Target area: Local bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities)
State: Gujarat
B is correct тАФ The Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 reserves 27 percent of seats for OBCs in local government bodies.
Remember that while SC and ST reservation in local bodies is mandatory under the Constitution, OBC reservation is optional and relies on state-specific empirical data or commission reports.