The Muslim OBC Caste List

The Muslim Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste list in India includes various communities that are recognized as socially and educationally disadvantaged. These communities are accorded OBC status by the Government of India and some state governments.OBC, or Other Backward Classes, refers to individuals from socially or educationally disadvantaged groups. Let’s take a look at the Muslim OBC caste list in India and explore the different groups included within this category!

Muslim Community

The Muslim caste in India makes for one of the largest minority communities in the country. The community follows several sects, traditions, and cultural practices. Reports state that India is home to around two hundred million Muslims. Hence, they constitute one of the world’s largest Muslim populations. However, they are still considered a minority in this predominantly Hindu country.

Most of the Muslim community identify as Sunni. This community makes up around 15% of the population. Whereas, the Hindus make up around 80% of the population. The Muslim communities in India are diverse. However, their differences are identified in terms of language, caste, and ethnicity. It also involves the access to political and economic power in the country.

The larger South Asian ethnic groups form a majority of Muslims in India. Some of the Muslims in the country were found with a gene flow from outside countries. So, they come from the Middle East as well as Central Asia. According to several sources, castes among Muslims developed because of the concept of Kafa’a. Those referred to as Ashrafs have a superior status derived from their foreign Arab ancestry. On the other hand, the Ajlafs converted from Hinduism have a lower status in society.

Muslim Reservation in India

Numerous communities are included in the Muslim reservation categories within both the Central OBC and various state OBC lists. Muslim OBCs constitute around 41% of the total population of people from this religion, according to a 2005 National Sample Survey Organisation survey.

The Muslims have a higher population in several South Indian states. Kerala has the fifth largest population of Muslims in the country. The state has OBC reservations for the entire Muslim community. It is around 8% in educational institutions and 10% in several government jobs. Moreover, Tamil Nadu provides reservations to around 95% of Muslim communities. Karnataka has 32% of reservations for the OBCs, out of which 4% get Muslim reservations. Many states like Bihar have also bifurcated OBCs into backward and most backward classes. Hence, most of the Muslim communities fall under the most backward category.

Muslim reservation in India is done to address socio-economic disparities. It also helps uplift socially and economically backward sections within the Muslim community. The reservation also enables the community to participate equitably in the development and progress of the country.  Hence, the Muslim OBC caste list underscores India’s commitment to reducing disparities and promoting diversity across all religious groups.

Muslim OBC Caste List – State Wise

The Muslim caste list is released by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, keeping in mind the caste census. The authorities often update the caste in the Muslim list depending on several factors. This list includes the names of Muslim castes under the OBC category.

Muslim OBC caste list across different Indian states

Sr.No.	Name of the State	Entry no. in the central list	Name of the caste
1	Andhra Pradesh	37	Mehtar (Muslim)
2	Assam	13	Manipuri Muslim
3	Bihar	130	Bakho (Muslim)
		84	Bhathiara (Muslim)
		38	Chik (Muslim)
		42	Churihar (Muslim)
		46	Dafali (Muslim)
		57	Dhobi (Muslim)
		58	Dhunia (Muslim)
		119	Idrisi or Darzi (Muslim)
		5	Kasab (Kasai) (Muslim)
		91	Madari(Muslim)
		92	Mehtar } Lalgbegi } (Muslim)Halalkhor} Bhangi}
		93	Miriasin (Muslim)
		102	Mirshikar (Muslim)
		103	Momin (Muslim)
		99	Mukri (Mukcri) (Muslim)
		67	Nalband (Muslim)
		63	Nat (Muslim)
		68	Pamaria (Muslim)
		109	Rangrez (Muslim)
		111	Rayeen or Kunjra (Muslim)
		116	Sayees (Muslim)
		131	Thakurai (Muslim)
		129	Saikalgarf (Sikligar) (Muslim)
4	Chandigarh	NIL
5	Dadra Nagar Haveli	9	Makarana(Muslim)
6	Daman & Diu	NIL
7	Delhi	NIL
8	Goa	NIL
9	Gujarat	3	Bafan (Muslim)
		17	Dafar (Hindu & Muslim)
		19	Fakir, Faquir (Muslim)
		20	Gadhai (Muslim)
		22	Galiara (Muslim)
		23	Ganchi (Muslim)
		24	Hingora (Muslim)
		28	Jat (Muslim)
		27	Julaya, Garana, Taria, Tari and Ansari (All Muslim)
		32	Khatki or Kasai Chamadia Khatki Halari Khatki (All Muslim)
		43	Majothi Kumbhar Darbar or Badan Majothi (All Muslim)
		44	Makrani (Muslim)
		45	Matwa or Matwa-Kureshi (Muslim)
		40	Mir Dhabi Langha Mirasi (All Muslim)
		49	Miyana, Miana (Muslim)
		54	Pinjara Ganchi-Pinjara Mansuri-Pinjara (All Muslim)
		59	Sandhi (Muslim)
		65	Sipai Pathi Jamat or Turk Jamat (All Muslim)
		70	Theba (Muslim)
		73	Hajam (Muslim), Khalipha (Muslim)
		76	Vanzara (Muslim)
		76	Wagher (Hindu & Muslim)
10	Haryana	NIL
11	Himachal Pradesh	NIL
12	J&K	NIL
13	Karnataka	13	chapper Band (Muslim)
		179	Other Muslim excluding: 1. Cutchi Menon 2. Navayat 3. Bohra or Bhora or Borah 4. Sayyid 5. Sheik 6. Pathan 7. MughalMahdivia/Mahdavi 8. Konkani or Jamayati Muslims
14	Kerala	39A	Other Muslims excluding: 1. Bohra 2. Cutchi Menmon. 3. Navayat 4. Turukkan 5. Dakhani Muslim
15	Madhya Pradesh	59	Islamic Groups: 1. Ranrej 2. Bhishti Bhishti-Abbasi 3. Chippa/Chhipa 4. Hela 5. Bhatiyara 6. Dhobi 7. Mewati,Meo 8. Pinjara, Naddaf, Fakir/Faquir, Behna, Dhunia; Dhunkar, Mansoori 9. Kunjara,Raine 10. Manihar 11. Kasai,Kasab,Kassab, Quasab, Qassab, Qassab-Qureshi 12. Mirasi 13. Barhai (Carpenter) 14. Hajjam(Barber) Nai (Barber) Salmani. 15. Julaha-Momin Julaha-Ansari Momin-Ansari 16. Luhar, Saifi, Nagauri Luhar Multani Luhar 17. Tadavi 18. Banjara, Mukeri, Makrani 19. Mochi 20. TeliNayata, Pindari (Pindara) 21. Kalaigar 22. Pemdi 23. Nalband 24. Mirdha(Excluding Jat Muslims) 25. Nat (Other than those included in the SC List) 26. Niyargar, Niyargar-Multani Niyaria 27. Gaddi
16	Maharashtra	187	Chhapparband (including Muslim)
17	Manipur	NIL
18	Orissa	NIL
19	Puducherry	NIL
20	Punjab	NIL
21	Rajasthan	23	Julaha (Hindu &, Muslim)
22	Sikkim	NIL
23	Tripura	NIL
24	Tamil Nadu	26	Dekkani Muslim
25	Uttar Pradesh	44	Muslim Kayastha
		22	Teli Malik (Muslim)
26	Uttrakhand	NIL
27	West Bengal	NIL
28	Andaman & Nicobar	NIL
29	Mizoram	No OBC
30	Nagaland	No OBC

People from the OBC category within the Muslim community are eligible for two types of benefits.

• External Social Benefits
• Internal Social Benefits

External social benefits include government provisions exclusively available for the citizens, including specific reservation benefits. Such benefits may also extend to the economically weaker section of society, including OBCs.

The internal social benefit includes the support provided by the Muslim community to its respective members. These benefits apply to both the Shia and Sunni communities within the society.

Reason Behind the Reservation

Several reports have said that the Muslim community is lagging in several social, educational, and economic indicators. For instance, the Sachar Committee report of 2006 noted that the Muslim community is lagging behind Hindu-OBCs as a whole. The committee also recommended different affirmative action methods for this particular community. The Kerala government formed a committee in 2008 based on the same report. It is noted that Muslims in Kerala are behind other communities in the social, economic, and educational fields. The government also recommended reservations in jobs and educational institutions for Muslims.

Dalit Muslims have further claimed that they must get reservations under the Scheduled Caste category in India. However, the Central has opposed this particular plea. Moreover, a case is already pending before the Supreme Court regarding this matter. Currently, the Muslim caste is included in the OBC category. As a result, they have to compete with communities that are often more privileged than them.

The Need for Muslim Reservation in India Muslim society is also divided into hundreds of types of castes. So, a very large population can be included in OBC if those castes are included on the ground. Presently, a proportion of Muslims get reservations under the OBC category in India. For the unversed, this category of reservations is for “backward classes” instead of any caste or religious group. Hence, legal experts say that this reservation for the Muslim caste is justified. It helps ensure that education and employment opportunities are accessible to all the castes, including the Muslim community. It remains an important step in the ongoing efforts to promote social equality and inclusion.

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