The Constitution of India mentions the backward classes as being ‘socially and educationally backward classes of citizens’. Article 340 authorises the President of India to appoint a Commission to investigation and report on the conditions of the backward classes in different parts of the country.
The state governments also under Articles 15(4) [16] can appoint a commission to look into the social and educational problems of different backward castes and can also make reservations in educational institutions and government services based on the findings of such commissions. The criteria of backwardness differ from state to state, as no all-India index of backwardness exists.