Disparities among Castes within the Backward Classes Category: An Analysis of Karnataka’s Dominant and Marginalized Other Backward Classes Groups

Abstract

Karnataka’s Backward Classes (Backward Classes) reservation framework encompasses communities with substantial differences in population, socio-economic conditions, educational attainment, and political representation. Drawing on available findings from the 2015 Socio-Economic and Educational Survey and subsequent reports and public accounts of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, this article examines disparities between dominant and marginalized Other Backward Classes communities and considers the case for sub-categorization and targeted welfare measures. It also identifies the administrative, political, and constitutional challenges involved in designing a more equitable reservation framework.