On August 9, 2021, Lok Sabha has passed the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The 127th Amendment Bill proposes to insert three new articles in the Constitution:
- Article 342A– deals with the Central List of the socially and educationally backward classes. The Bill proposes to authorise the States to have their own list of socially and educationally backward class (SEBC) [342A(3)].
- Article 366(26C)– defines the socially and educationally backward classes as such backward.
classes as are so deemed under article 342A for the purposes of the Central Government or the State or Union territory.
- Article 338B– has constituted the National Commission for Backward Classes. The Bill adds a proviso to the article, proposing that this clause shall not be applicable to Article 342A(3) i.e., States/ Union Territories power to make their own list of SEBC.
The Bill seeks to empower the State Government and Union territories to prepare and maintain their own State List/ Union territory List of SEBCs and with a view to maintain the federal structure of this country.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.