GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
LAW DEPARTMENT
Legislative
No. 658-L. Date: 15th July, 2026
NOTIFICATION
The following Act of the West Bengal Legislature, having been assented to by the Governor, is hereby published for general information:-
West Bengal Act VIII of 2026
THE WEST BENGAL BACKWARD CLASSES (OTHER THAN SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES) (RESERVATION OF VACANCIES IN SERVICES AND POSTS) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2026.
[Passed by the West Bengal Legislature.]
An Act to amend the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012.
Whereas it is expedient to amend the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012, for the purpose and in the manner hereinafter appearing;
It is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India by the Legislature of West Bengal, as follows:-
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) (Amendment) Act, 2026.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Amendment of section 1 of West Ben. Act XXXIX of 2012.
In section 1 of the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 2012 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act) for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted:-
“(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Backward Classes (Reservation in Posts) Act, 2012.”.
3. Amendment of section 2.
In section 2 of the principal Act,-
(a) for clause (f), the following clause shall be substituted:-
‘(f) “lists” shall have the same meaning as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993;’;
(b) for clause (h), the following clause shall be substituted:-
‘(h) “Other Backward Classes” shall mean such classes of citizens defined as “backward classes” in clause (a) of section 2 of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993;’.
4. Amendment of section 4.
In section 4 of the principal Act, for the word and figures “Schedule II”, the word and figure “Schedule” shall be substituted.
5. Amendment of section 5.
In section 5 of the principal Act,-
(a) for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted:-
“(a) subject to the other provisions of this Act, the State Government in consultation with the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes shall determine the percentage of the posts to be reserved for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes:
Provided that the State Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, increase the percentage in the manner that the overall reservation for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes shall not exceed fifty percent”-.
(b) for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted:-
“(b) the State Government in consultation with the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes may, by order published in the Official Gazette, classify citizen of Other Backward Classes into various categories on the basis of their relative backwardness and determine the percentage of the posts to be reserved for candidates belonging to each such categories of Other Backward Classes.”;
(c) the “Explanation” shall be omitted.
6. Amendment of section 6.
For section 6 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted:- “Certificate of 6. A candidate who claims to be a member of Other Backward identification.
Classes shall support his candidature by such certificate of identification to be issued by such competent authority in such manner as may be prescribed.”.
7. Omission of section 16.
Section 16 of the principal Act shall be omitted.
8. Omission of Schedule I.
Schedule I of the principal Act shall be omitted.
9. Amendment of Schedule II.
Schedule II of the principal Act shall be read as Schedule.
10. Omission of Schedule III.
Schedule III of the principal Act shall be omitted.
By order of the Governor,
SUBHRADIP MITRA.
Pr. Secy. to the Govt. of West Bengal,
Law Department.