Government has decided to categorise the backward classes into two categories depending on their relative backwardness and make separate provisions for reservation in services and posts
The List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in West Bengal includes various communities that are recognized as socially and educationally disadvantaged, but not as Scheduled Castes (SCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The state government provides special programs and resources to ensure their socio-economic development and to reduce inequality.
| SL No. | More Backward (Category A) | SL No. | Backward (Category B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdal (Muslim) | 1 | Adaldar (Muslim) |
| 2 | Atta (Muslim) | 2 | Akunji/ Akan/ Akhan (Muslim) |
| 3 | Baidya Muslim | 3 | Bag (Muslim) |
| 4 | Basni/ Bosni (Muslim) | 4 | Bagani (Muslim) |
| 5 | Bayen (Muslim) | 5 | Baishya Kapali |
| 6 | Beldar Muslim | 6 | Bansi Barman |
| 7 | Bepari/ Byapari Muslim | 7 | Baradi (Muslim) |
| 8 | Bhangi (Muslim) | 8 | Barujibi, Barui |
| 9 | Bhatia Muslim | 9 | Betkar (Bentkar) |
| 10 | Bhuiya/ Bhunya (Muslim) | 10 | Bhandari (Muslim) |
| 11 | Borah/ Bara/ Bora (Muslim) | 11 | Bhar |
| 12 | Chowduli (Muslim) | 12 | Bharbhuja |
| 13 | Dhanuk | 13 | Bhujel |
| 14 | Dhatri/ Dai/ Dhaity (Muslim) | 14 | Bungchheng |
| 15 | Dhukre (Muslim) | 15 | Chaprashi (Muslim) |
| 16 | Dhunia | 16 | Chasatti (Chasa) |
| 17 | Fakir, Sain | 17 | Chitrakar |
| 18 | Gayen (Muslim) | 18 | Scheduled Castes converts to Christianity and their progeny |
| 19 | Gharami (Muslim) | 19 | Churihar |
| 20 | Ghorkhan | 20 | Dalai (Muslim) |
| 21 | Ghosi (Muslim) | 21 | Daptari (Muslim) |
| 22 | Goldar/ Golder (Muslim) | 22 | Devanga |
| 23 | Gorey (Muslim) | 23 | Dewan |
| 24 | Hajjam (Muslim) | 24 | Dewan (Muslim) |
| 25 | Halsana (Muslim) | 25 | Dhabak (Muslim) |
| 26 | Hati (Muslim) | 26 | Dhali (Muslim) |
| 27 | Hawaikar (Muslim) | 27 | Dhimal |
| 28 | Hawari | 28 | Gangot |
| 29 | Jatuya (Muslim) | 29 | Gavara |
| 30 | Jogi | 30 | Gazi (Muslim), Par (Muslim) |
| 31 | Jolah (Ansari-Momin) | 31 | Goala, Gope (Pallav Gope, Ballav Gope, Yadav Gope, Gope, Ahir and Yadav) |
| 32 | Kalwar | 32 | Gurung |
| 33 | Kan (Muslim) | 33 | Hele/ Halia/ Chasi-Kaibartta/ Das Kaibartta |
| 34 | Kasai | 34 | Hoseni Goyala (Muslim) |
| 35 | Kayal (Muslim) | 35 | Kahar |
| 36 | Khajonkriya/ Khajankriya (Muslim) | 36 | Kalal/ Iraqi |
| 37 | Khandait | 37 | Kansari |
| 38 | Khansama | 38 | Kapali |
| 39 | Khondekar/Khonkar (Muslim) | 39 | Karani |
| 40 | Khotta Muslim | 40 | Karmakar |
| 41 | Kosta/ Kostha | 41 | Katha (Muslim) |
| 42 | Lakhera/ Laahera | 42 | Kazi/ Kaji/ Quazi/ Quaji (Muslim) |
| 43 | Mahaldar (Muslim) | 43 | Keori/ Koiri |
| 44 | Mai Muslim | 44 | Khalashi (Muslim) |
| 45 | Majhi/ Patni Muslim | 45 | Khan (Muslim) |
| 46 | Mallick | 46 | Khen (Non Bania category) |
| 47 | Midde | 47 | Kichni (Muslim) |
| 48 | Muchi/ Chamar Muslim | 48 | Kotal (Muslim) |
| 49 | Muslim Barujibi/ Barui | 49 | Kumbhakar, Kumar |
| 50 | Muslim Bhatiyara | 50 | Kurmi |
| 51 | Muslim Biswas | 51 | Majhi |
| 52 | Muslim Chutor Mistri | 52 | Malakar |
| 53 | Muslim Dafadar | 53 | Malita/ Malitha/ Malitya (Muslim) |
| 54 | Muslim Haidar | 54 | Mangar |
| 55 | Muslim Jamadar | 55 | Mistri (Muslim) |
| 56 | Muslim Kalander | 56 | Moira (Halwai), Modak (Halwai) |
| 57 | Muslim Laskar | 57 | Mouli (Muslim) |
| 58 | Muslim Mali, Faraji (Muslim) | 58 | Mudi/ Mehedi (Muslim) |
| 59 | Muslim Mandal | 59 | Mukti/ Mufti (Muslim) |
| 60 | Muslim Molla | 60 | Muslim Darji/ Ostagar/ Idrishi |
| 61 | Muslim Nehariya | 61 | Nagar |
| 62 | Muslim Penchi | 62 | Napit |
| 63 | Muslim Piyada | 63 | Nembang |
| 64 | Muslim Rajmistri | 64 | Newar |
| 65 | Muslim Sanpui/Sapui | 65 | Pahadia Muslim |
| 66 | Muslim Sardar | 66 | Paik (Muslim) |
| 67 | Naiya (Muslim) | 67 | Pailan (Muslim) |
| 68 | Nashya-Sekh | 68 | Purkait (Muslim) |
| 69 | Nikari (Muslim) | 69 | Rai (including Chamling) |
| 70 | Pahar (Muslim) | 70 | Raju |
| 71 | Patidar | 71 | Sadhukhan (Muslim) |
| 72 | Raptan (Muslim) | 72 | Sahana (Muslim) |
| 73 | Rayeen (Kunjra) | 73 | Sampang |
| 74 | Roniwar | 74 | Sana (Muslim) |
| 75 | Sekh/Seikh | 75 | Sarak |
| 76 | Shershabadia | 76 | Sarala/ Sarwala (Muslim) |
| 77 | Shikari/ Sikari (Muslim) | 77 | Sareng (Muslim) |
| 78 | Siuli (Muslim) | 78 | Sarkar (Muslim) |
| 79 | Sukli | 79 | Satchasi |
| 80 | Tutia (Muslim) | 80 | Sepai (Muslim) |
| 81 | Hazari (Muslim) | 81 | Shah (Shah/ Sahaji) |
| 82 | Shankakar | ||
| 83 | Sunuwar | ||
| 84 | Sutradhar | ||
| 85 | Swarnakar | ||
| 86 | Tal-Pakha Benia | ||
| 87 | Tamboli/ Tamali | ||
| 88 | Tanti, Tantubaya | ||
| 89 | Tarafdar (Muslim) | ||
| 90 | Teli, Kolu | ||
| 91 | Thami | ||
| 92 | Turha | ||
| 93 | Yogi, Nath | ||
| 94 | Gurung | ||
| 95 | Layek (Muslim) | ||
| 96 | Khas | ||
| 97 | Shikder/ Shikdar/ Sikder/ Sikdar (Muslim) | ||
| 98 | Chowdhury/ Chowdhuri (Muslim) | ||
| 99 | Bairagi/ Baishnab |
References: