‘Other Backward Classes’ is the intermediate layer between the traditional upper castes and the untouchables. It is a heterogeneous category comprising diverse socio-economic entities. The extremes in the category are the dominant castes like land-owners and the economically & socially deprived castes, who work as landless laborers, sharecroppers etc. A few non-Hindu communities too falls under this category. The composition of OBCs varies from state to state.
Though untouchability and isolation are never their problem, in most cases, the status of OBCs in the society restricted their progress and prosperity. In some cases, the condition of some of the lower castes of the OBC category is worse than the scheduled castes.