Economically Backward Class

The term Economically Backward Class (EBC) refers to a category of people belonging to the economically weaker sections of society, irrespective of their caste, religion, or community, who face economic hardship and limited access to educational and employment opportunities. The concept of EBC was developed in India to extend social justice and affirmative action to individuals who are financially disadvantaged, even if they do not fall under traditionally recognised socially backward categories such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), or Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
EBCs are recognised under various state and central government welfare schemes aimed at promoting equality, reducing poverty, and ensuring inclusive development.

Background and Evolution

The idea of addressing economic backwardness dates back to early post-independence India. While the Constitution of India provided reservations and welfare measures for socially and educationally backward groups (SCs, STs, and OBCs), it did not explicitly include economic criteria for backwardness.
However, over time, it was recognised that there exist individuals and families from higher or unreserved castes who are economically deprived and face barriers to higher education and employment. As a result, both state governments and the Union Government introduced schemes for Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to address this gap.

Constitutional Context

The Indian Constitution originally based affirmative action (reservations) primarily on social and educational backwardness rather than purely economic criteria. However, economic disadvantage has been increasingly recognised in policy decisions and amendments.
Key constitutional provisions include:

• Article 15(6): (Inserted by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019)
  • Allows the State to make special provisions for the advancement of economically weaker sections (EWS) of citizens, including reservations in educational institutions.
• Article 16(6):
  • Provides for 10% reservation in government jobs for EWS citizens who are not covered under SC, ST, or OBC categories.

Although the 103rd Amendment formally uses the term EWS, various states continue to use EBC or Economically Backward Classes for similar purposes in their local welfare schemes.

Distinction Between EBC and EWS

Thus, while EBC is often used interchangeably with EWS, it is generally a state-level category that existed even before the 103rd Amendment introduced the formal EWS classification at the national level.

Criteria for Identification of EBCs

Criteria for identifying Economically Backward Classes vary across states and government schemes. However, some general indicators include:

1. Income Limit:
   • Annual family income below a prescribed threshold (e.g., ₹8 lakh per annum under the EWS category).
2. Landholding and Property Ownership:
   • Agricultural land not exceeding 5 acres.
   • Residential property below a specific size (e.g., 1000 sq. ft. house, 100 sq. yard plot in a municipality).
3. Educational and Employment Status:
   • Families lacking access to quality education or regular employment.
4. Exclusion of Socially Reserved Groups:
   • Those already benefiting from SC/ST/OBC reservations are typically excluded.

These criteria are verified through income and asset certificates issued by local authorities (Tehsildars or Revenue Officers).

Government Welfare Measures for EBCs

Various state and central governments have implemented welfare and development programmes for EBCs to promote equality and social mobility.

1. Educational Support:

• Scholarships for EBC Students: Provided by both central and state governments to assist with school, college, and professional education.
• Fee concessions and hostel facilities in public institutions.
• Interest-free loans for higher education and skill development.

2. Employment and Economic Assistance:

• Reservation or preference in government jobs (in some states).
• Self-employment schemes through subsidised loans and microfinance initiatives.
• Skill development programmes under Skill India Mission and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).

3. Housing and Social Welfare Schemes:

• Inclusion in schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
• Access to health insurance through Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

State-Level EBC Initiatives

Several states have recognised EBCs under different names and provided reservations or benefits before and after the EWS amendment:

• Bihar: Provides educational scholarships and welfare programmes for EBCs (distinct from OBCs).
• Uttar Pradesh: Separate quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Backward Classes (EBC) in education.
• Maharashtra: Recognises Economically Backward Class (EBC) among forward castes and provides educational concessions.
• Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Offer fee reimbursement and welfare schemes for EBC students.
• Tamil Nadu: Recognises poor from forward communities under Most Economically Backward Class (MEBC) category.

103rd Constitutional Amendment (2019): A Landmark for Economic Criteria

The 103rd Amendment Act formally institutionalised economic criteria as a basis for reservation. Key features include:

• 10% reservation in educational institutions and government jobs for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
• Applicable to General Category citizens (not covered under SC, ST, or OBC categories).
• Based on economic criteria, as notified by the Government of India.
• Upheld by the Supreme Court of India (2022), affirming its constitutional validity.

This amendment marked a significant shift by formally recognising economic deprivation as a legitimate ground for affirmative action, aligning with the long-standing idea behind the EBC classification.

Challenges and Criticisms

1. Definitional Ambiguity:
   • No uniform definition of EBC across states and schemes.
2. Overlap with Other Categories:
   • Confusion between EBC, EWS, and OBC categories creates administrative complexity.
3. Limited Representation:
   • EBC reservations or schemes vary widely between states, leading to unequal benefits.
4. Targeting and Implementation Issues:
   • Difficulty in verifying income and asset criteria.
   • Risks of exclusion and inclusion errors.
5. Policy Debate:
   • Critics argue that reservations should primarily address social backwardness, not just economic poverty.

Importance of EBC Recognition

• Inclusive Development: Ensures that economically poor individuals from all sections of society benefit from welfare schemes.
• Social Equity: Reduces income inequality and promotes balanced socio-economic progress.
• Political Stability: Addresses grievances among economically weaker groups outside traditional backward categories.
• Human Resource Development: Facilitates education and skill advancement for economically marginalised citizens.