The Lok Sabha today passed the 102nd Constitution Amendment Bill, 2017 to create a new commission with constitutional status for the OBCs at par with the National Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. <br/><br/><br/>Being a Constitution Amendment Bill it was passed by a two-third majority of the members present and voting. 360 members voted in its favour while the two against. The amendments moved by the opposition members were also negated. <br/><br/><br/>The Lok Sabha also passed the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill,2017 to repeal the existing National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) Act, 1993. Replying to a debate on the bills, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot said, giving constitutional status to the OBC Commission will empower it to hear grievances and their redressal besides reviewing the schemes being implemented for the development of Other Backward Class communities.<br/><br/> He said, the present Commission lacked powers on these fronts. He said, the proposed commission will have a chairperson, vice- chairperson and three other members. He also assured the members that a provision will be made in the rules to include one woman member in the Commission. He also assured the House that the powers of the States in respect of OBCs Commission will in no way be curtailed. <br/> <br/>At present, the functions of the NCBC is limited to examining the requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in the existing quota and advise the central government. <br/><br/><br/>The existing NCBC was set up as a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in August, 1993.