What is meant by the term “backward classes”?

The term “backward classes” has been used in terms of the weaker section of society, particularly the scheduled castes (SC), the scheduled tribes (ST) and the other backward classes (OBC).

In the early days of India’s independence, the term ‘backward classes’ did not have had a fixed or definite reference. Earlier the term ‘depressed classes’ was used for the “untouchables” and other backward groups. As a matter of fact, the backward classes are above the so-called ‘untouchable’ groups and below the ‘twice-born’ castes.