---
title: "Mandal Commission and Caste-Based Reservation — Definition"
description: "The Mandal Commission recommended 27% OBC reservation in central jobs, implemented in 1990. Learn the legal basis, the 50% cap, and the creamy-layer test."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/caste-mandal-commission"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Mandal Commission was India's Second Backwards Classes Commission whose 1980 report recommended 27 percent reservation in central government jobs for Other Backward Classes.
- Why is OBC reservation capped at 27 percent rather than the OBC share of population?
- What is the creamy layer and does it apply to all reserved categories?
- How does EWS reservation differ from Mandal-based OBC reservation?
- What was the significance of the Indra Sawhney judgment?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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## Timeline

1. 1 January 1979

   Formally the Second Backward Classes Commission, it was constituted on by the Janata Party government of Prime Minister Morarji Desai and chaired by B.

2. 7 August 1990

   Singh announced its implementation for central government posts on through an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training.

3. 8 September 1993

   The Government of India operationalised the creamy-layer test through an Office Memorandum of setting an income and status ceiling, periodically revised; as…

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Prime Minister V. P. Singh announced implementation of the Mandal Commission's 27 percent OBC reservation in central government services on 7 August 1990, triggering nationwide protests.

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