Assertion: By the end of the 20th century many parties raised the question of the share of power enjoyed by the OBCs.
Reason: OBCs are communities other than SC and ST that suffer from educational and social backwardness and are also referred to as ‘backward castes'.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
Reason for Assertion: These parties claimed that since OBCs constituted a large segment of Indian society, it was only democratic that the OBCs should get adequate representation in administration and have their due share of political power.
A significant and enduring development during the 1990s was the emergence of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as a potent political force. The term 'OBC' pertains to the administrative classification of "Other Backward Classes," encompassing communities beyond the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), which grapple with educational and societal disadvantages. These communities are often referred to as "backward castes." The Congress party witnessed a wane in its support within numerous segments of the backward castes, thereby creating an opening for non-Congress political entities to garner greater backing from these groups.