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Saturday, February 21, 2026
TopicMandal Commission

Topic: Mandal Commission

India’s most consequential decade & chronicling it as part of the dream team of journalism

You’d think the decade of 1985-95 is long over. Not really. The issues that erupted in that decade are still shaping Indian conversations.

Before Mandal, there was no casteism. New think-tank report says no proof it’s 3,000 yrs old

The report, which took Durga Nath Jha two years to research and write, concludes that backwardness should be based on location and not caste.

OBC representation in public sector companies improving, but still below Mandal Commission benchmark

Though ThePrint’s analysis of annual public sector survey reports shows a gradual rise, it is still below ceiling of 27 percent as recommended by the 1979 Mandal Commission.

Congress & BJP are gunning for fair OBC ‘share’, but only about 1 in 4 candidates from community

Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi are championing OBC cause, but only 23% of Congress and 27% of BJP candidates are from the community, estimated to make up about half of India’s population.

Lower, lowered, Shudra or OBC caste—What to call more than half of India’s population?

Shudra’ has been used as a slur in Manusmriti, Ramcharitmanas and other Hindu texts. And in common parlance, it is used to insult or belittle someone.

BJP Pasmanda outreach biggest disruption since Mandal. Desire for quota rising among Muslims

Scooter yatra, Sneh sammelan, personal meetings with PM—BJP is already prepping for 2024 by Pasmanda outreach.

From ‘jamaat’ to ‘jaat’ — how Nitish is using the caste census in Bihar to corner the BJP

By conducting a socio-economic caste census, which began in Bihar Saturday, CM Nitish Kumar is trying to recreate 1990s Mandal politics and gain political mileage in the state.

EWS is upon us because politicians now offer reservation in elections just like freebies

It wasn’t just human beings who immolated themselves in the anti-Mandal agitation in 1990-1991. Ideals and an entire style of politics also went up in flames during that period.

Bihar is talking caste census but with Mandal memories — Hope, anxiety, fear

Caste census is a political hot potato that is likely to upset social and political arithmetic. And it is something no party can afford to be seen openly opposing.

Hurdang creates the world of Mandal student politics but not a convincing one

The film tries to look at the Mandal Commission and caste-based reservation through an upper-caste lens, but offers lazy arguments.

On Camera

Cautious optimism — India’s new relationship with Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh

Both Bangladesh and India will have to work together to repair the damage done during the Yunus administration.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.