Kolkata, 10 June (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday, clarified in the State Assembly that backwardness is the sole criterion for determining OBC status, dismissing any religious basis for inclusion. She accused certain groups of spreading disinformation on social media regarding OBC categorization. Banerjee noted that a government-appointed commission is surveying 50 new subsections for potential OBC inclusion, with 49 subsections currently under OBC-A (more backward) and 91 under OBC-B (less backward). These inclusions were based on extensive field surveys and recommendations from the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes, as outlined in its 2024-25 annual report tabled by the Chief Minister.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey