New Delhi, Mar 23 (IANS): The Union cabinet has approved setting up of National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes replacing the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and approved amending the Constitution and inserting Article 338B for setting up the new commission.

The bill to be introduced in Parliament proposes:

Insertion of a new Clause (26C) under Article 366 to define Socially and Educationally Backward Classes;

Insertion of provision after Articles 341 and 342 viz. 342 A to provide for Parliament's approval for every inclusion into and exclusion from the Central List of Other Backward Classes;

Repeal of National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, and Rules framed thereunder;

Dissolution of the Commission constituted under the Act of 1993;

Composition of the new Commission, i.e. National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, with a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and three other Members.

Set up in 1993, the NCBC was entrusted with examining requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and advice central government on the matter.