Which of the following statements is/are correct with reference to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC)?
A. The Centre alone is empowered to identify socially and educationally backward classes and include them in the Central List for claiming reservation benefits.
B. States could only make suggestions to the President or the statutory commissions concerned for inclusion, exclusion or modification of castes and communities to be included in the List.
C. Both A & B
D. None of these
Explanation:
The Centre alone is empowered to identify socially and educationally backward classes and include them in the Central List for claiming reservation benefits. The President (that is the Central government) alone, to the exclusion of all other authorities, is empowered to identify SEBCs and include them in a list to be published under Article 342A (1), which shall be deemed to include SEBCs in relation to each State and Union Territory for the purposes of the Constitution. States could only make suggestions to the President or the statutory commissions concerned for inclusion, exclusion or modification of castes and communities to be included in the