Synopsis India’s backward class (other than SCs and STs) population is estimated to be 52 percent of the total population and there is enormous diversity among them in terms of occupation, customs and level of development. Beside incorporating a number of measures in the constitution to safeguard the interests of these people, various policies and programmes have been designed to improve their social, educational and economic status. This book is attempt to have an understanding about this section of the society by obtaining some idea of their identification and listing in the historical perspective. The book presents a brief background of reservation policy, creamy layer provisions, classification, apportionment of reservation and revision of OBC lists. It discusses the role of government, social organizations, backward castes / communities, political parties to project the state-society relationship and its dynamics of functioning for upliftment of OBCs.