Bengal cabinet nod for revision of OBC list, inclusion of new castes
These 76 new castes would be added to the existing 64 ethnic groups on the Other Backward Class (OBC) list in the state, official said.
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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
UP govt to give 20% reservation in police, fire services to ex-Agniveers
The Uttar Pradesh government will provide 20 per cent reservation to the ex-Agniveers in the state police and fire department, an official said on Saturday. The state government issued an order regarding this on June 6. The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday said that it will provide 20 per cent reservation to ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment to several positions in the state police. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Tuesday said the move aims to provide meaningful post-service opportunities to Agniveers, who have completed their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme. 'This is a significant decision. The reservation will be applicable across categories — General, SC, ST and OBC. If an ex-Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC; if OBC, then within OBC,' he explained. Special age relaxation of up to three years will also be provided to former Agniveers applying for these posts, he added. There are four categories — police constable, PAC constable, mounted police and fireman — for which recruitment will be done. The first batch of recruits under this system will come out in 2026, Khanna said. 'Several states and central forces have already taken the initiative to provide reservations to Agniveers. States like Haryana and Odisha have offered 10 per cent reservation to former Agniveers. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has now approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation, which is a bold and generous initiative,' the minister said. This not only recognises their service but ensures that they continue contributing to the nation's security infrastructure after their military stint, he said. The Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services.
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Dynastic feuds may reshape Indian politics
In Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal leans on its OBC and Muslim vote bank, and Lalu Prasad Yadav's anti-elite legacy. His sons, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, are locked in a clownish feud as Tej Pratap's social media rant about 'Jaichands' and a 12-year romance clash with Tejashwi's steady hand as Lalu's heir. The RJD's political now wobbles as Tej Pratap's antics, in the backdrop of his estranged wife Aishwarya's lament, alienate voters. If the RJD fractures, Bihar's educated youth craving jobs over drama could turn to the BJP's development narrative or Nitish Kumar's JD(U) again. Consolidation under Tejashwi would bolster the RJD's clout, challenging the BJP's dominance and forcing the Congress to play second fiddle in alliances. UP's Samajwadi Party (SP), rooted in Yadav and OBC identity, still stings from its 2016 family feud, when Akhilesh Yadav ousted uncle Shivpal, costing the party the 2017 election. Akhilesh now wields the SP's political clout consisting of its caste-based vote bank. But UP's urbanising youth, less swayed by caste, demand results. If the SP splinters further, the BJP with its Hindutva and development mix will tighten its grip on the state, leaving the Congress to pick up scraps. A unified SP leveraging its Yadav-Muslim base could challenge the BJP's hegemony, forcing national parties to negotiate hard for UP's 80 Lok Sabha seats. Maharashtra's NCP, built on Maratha pride and rural networks, is reeling from Ajit Pawar's 2023 betrayal splitting from Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule to join the BJP. Ajit's grab for the NCP's name, symbol and the Maratha vote bank left Supriya's faction scrambling. If the split persists, the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena will dominate the state, with the Congress gaining marginal urban votes. A reunited NCP, though a long shot, could reclaim its kingmaker status, forcing national parties to vie for its support in coalition games. The BSP, anchored in Dalit empowerment, is Mayawati's fortress. Her anointment of brother Anand Kumar and nephew Aakash screams of nepotism. Its political capital is its Jatav Dalit base, which is slipping as educated Dalits drift to BJP's development promises. If the BSP collapses under dynastic weight, the BJP will absorb its voters, cementing dominance in UP, while the Congress might snag urban Dalits. Consolidation under Aakash, if Mayawati steps back, could revive the BSP's Dalit clout, challenging national parties in UP's caste cauldron. West Bengal's Trinamool Congress, fuelled by Bengali sub-nationalism, is Mamata Banerjee's domain, with nephew Abhishek Banerjee as heir. His rise as MP and party general secretary irks veterans, but Mamata's grip keeps dissent at bay. But Bengal's growing middle class demands merit. If the TMC fractures post-Mamata, the BJP's Hindutva pitch could sway voters, with the Congress a distant contender. A consolidated TMC under Abhishek could dominate Bengal, forcing national parties to cede ground in eastern coalitions. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK thrives on Dravidian identity, championing Tamil pride and social justice. M K Stalin, Karunanidhi's son, rules unchallenged, grooming his son Udhayanidhi Stalin as successor, with hardly any overt pushback from anyone within the family or outside. The DMK's politics, comprising its Tamil base and anti-Hindi stance, is robust, but Tamil Nadu's IT-driven prosperity is breeding a youth sceptical of dynasty. In the unlikely but hypothetical situation of the DMK splintering, the BJP could gain urban footholds while the AIADMK mops up rural votes. A unified DMK, with Udhayanidhi at the helm, would keep Tamil Nadu a regional stronghold by marginalising national parties. The Pattali Makkal Katchi, ensconced in Tamil Nadu's Vanniyar caste silo, faces collapse as S Ramadoss battles son Anbumani, who was sacked from party president's chair in April 2025 over a BJP alliance spat. Anbumani's defiance targets the PMK's political foundation. If the PMK implodes, the DMK and AIADMK will rupture its fountainhead, with the BJP gaining marginal caste votes. But a united PMK could still sway coalitions, forcing national parties to court its niche clout.
News18
15 hours ago
- News18
Uttar Pradesh To Give 20% Reservation To Ex-Agniveers In Police, PAC, Fire Services
Last Updated: The reservation will be horizontal, applying across all existing categories – General, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) In a significant initiative to provide meaningful post-service opportunities for Agniveers completing their four-year tenure, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 20 per cent reservation for them in direct recruitment to the state police and fire services. An official statement confirmed that the government issued this order on June 6, 2025. Approved by the UP cabinet, chaired by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, this decision ensures that the skills, discipline, and training gained during military service are effectively utilised in civilian roles within the state's security apparatus. The reservation will be horizontal, applying across all existing categories—General, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). For example, if an ex-Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within the SC quota. This reservation will apply to direct recruitment for positions such as police constable, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constable, mounted police, and fireman. Furthermore, ex-Agniveers will receive a special age relaxation of up to three years in the upper age limit for these posts, facilitating their transition into civilian employment. This initiative is particularly timely, as the first batch of Agniveers, recruited under the 2022 Agnipath scheme, will complete their service and seek civilian employment starting in 2026. The UP government's proactive step aligns with the national objective of ensuring a smooth transition for Agniveers, 75 per cent of whom will be released after their service with a Seva Nidhi package but without pension benefits. Uttar Pradesh's 20 per cent reservation also sets a high benchmark, exceeding the 10 per cent reservation offered by states like Haryana and Odisha. (With PTI inputs) First Published: June 07, 2025, 23:22 IST
