UP Panchayat Elections Clear Path as CM Yogi Approves OBC Commission The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has cleared a major hurdle for upcoming panchayat elections by approving the formation of a dedicated OBC (Other Backward Classes) commission. This decision, announced during a cabinet meeting chaired by Yogi, aims to resolve long-standing disputes over reservation quotas for OBC candidates in local body elections. The move is expected to expedite the electoral process, which had been delayed due to the absence of a specialized authority to conduct the necessary surveys for reservation allocation. The OBC commission, which was previously established in 2025, had its term extended until October 2026. However, it lacked the legal authority to carry out the required survey to determine the actual population of OBCs in the state. The new commission, now approved by the cabinet, will conduct a rapid survey to assess the socio-economic and demographic status of OBC communities. This data will form the basis for calculating the exact percentage of reserved seats, ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court’s mandate for a "triple test" framework. The court’s guidelines require the inclusion of socio-economic backwardness, educational backwardness, and representation in the workforce to determine eligibility for reservations. The government’s decision to establish the commission aligns with the Supreme Court’s directive that reservations for OBCs must not exceed 27% of total seats. This cap, already in place, ensures that the reservation system remains proportionate to the population of OBCs.#yogi_adityanath #supreme_court #up_unchanged #up_panchayat_elections #obc_commission
