UP Cabinet decisions: Commission to be formed for OBC reservation in Panchayat elections, read more…
Lucknow, May 18: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet meeting held at Lok Bhavan on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved the formation of the “Uttar Pradesh State Local Rural Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission” to determine Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in the state’s three-tier rural bodies.
This commission will examine the status of social and political backwardness of backward classes for providing reservation to backward classes in Panchayat elections. A total of 12 proposals were presented in the cabinet meeting and all were approved.
Giving details of the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that in compliance with the Supreme Court order, the state government has approved the formation of the “Uttar Pradesh State Local Rural Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission” to provide reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the three-tier Panchayat elections. The Commission will conduct a contemporary and empirical study of the status of backward classes in the state, their population, social representation, and participation in Panchayats, and will make recommendations for determining proportional reservations for each local body.
The Finance Minister stated that reservations in Panchayats are in effect under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1947, and the Uttar Pradesh Area Panchayat and District Panchayat Act, 1961. Reservation for backward classes will not exceed 27 percent of the total number of posts, and if updated population data is not available, data can be determined through surveys. The Cabinet approved the formation of the Commission, and its tenure will generally be six months. The Commission will study data to determine reservations for OBCs in the state’s Gram Panchayats, Kshetra Panchayats, and District Panchayats and recommend proportional reservations for each constituency. Based on this, the reservation system will be implemented in the upcoming Panchayat elections.
According to the Cabinet decision, the Commission will have a total of five members, nominated by the State Government. One of these members will be a retired High Court judge, who will be appointed as the Commission’s Chairperson. The Commission will include individuals with knowledge and experience in matters related to backward classes.
The government clarified that under Article 243-D of the Constitution and relevant Acts, reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes are provided in Panchayats. Reservation for Backward Classes will not exceed 27 percent of the total number of posts. The final determination of reservations in Panchayats will be made based on the Commission’s report.
To provide affordable electricity to the people of Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Cabinet has also approved a new thermal power project with a capacity of 3 x 800 MW. This ambitious 2400 MW project will cost approximately ₹38,358 crore. The project will be established and operated in Mirzapur through a joint venture between the state government and NTPC. A state-of-the-art
1,010-bed emergency center will be built at the Lohia Institute
. The cabinet also approved the construction of a 1,010-bed multi-specialty emergency center hospital, a new OPD block, and a teaching block at the new campus of the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, located on Shaheed Path in Gomti Nagar Extension Sector 7. Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that ₹855 crore (434,000 rupees) has been approved for this ambitious project. Under this ambitious project, a multi-specialty emergency center hospital with a total of 1,010 beds will be constructed. A new OPD block will also be constructed. A new teaching block with a capacity of 200 seats will be developed as part of the project.
Tripartite MoU Approved for Lucknow Metro Phase 1B
The Cabinet meeting approved the execution of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Central Government, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. for the Lucknow Metro Project Phase 1B East-West Corridor (Charbagh to Vasant Kunj).
Finance Minister Khanna stated that the project’s DPR had already been approved by the Cabinet. The approved cost of ₹5,801.05 crore has now been agreed upon. The Central Government and the State Government will share 50% each in the project. This East-West Corridor, to be built from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj, will further strengthen the transportation system in the capital, Lucknow, and provide modern and accessible public transportation to citizens.
He added that the Cabinet meeting also approved a major gift from the Yogi government to veterinary students. The internship allowance for veterinary students was increased from 4,000 to 12,000 rupees. The cabinet also approved the Mirzapur pooling substation construction proposal and the transmission line construction proposal. He added that the implementation of the UP Birth and Death Registration Rules 2026 and the expansion of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital were also approved.
The state’s finance minister stated that the Yogi cabinet approved the land transfer proposal for the Agra Metro Corridor-2. The proposals for the construction of the Agra Metro station and viaduct, amendments to the 2007 securities notification, implementation of the UP Public Service Commission Amendment Regulations 2026, and the establishment of the Sardar Patel Apex University in Mirzapur were also approved.
