Seeking to extend benefits of reservation to economically weaker sections among the upper castes, the Union government has constituted a Commission for Economically Backward Classes.

The commission’s recommendations will be applicable for those who are ‘‘not covered under the existing reservation policy,’’ a notification by the Ministry of Social Justice said.

Major Gen (Rtd) S R Sinha is the chairperson, Narendra Kumar is member and Mahendra Singh, member-secretary. For the UPA government, this move is expected to blunt the upper-caste anger against expanding reservations to areas such as higher education.

‘‘The commission would elicit the views of the state governments, Union Territories ... suggest criteria for identification of economically backward classes, recommend the welfare measures and quantum of reservation in education and government employment...,’’ the notification said.

Just before the 2003 Rajasthan assembly elections, the then chief minister Ashok Gehlot had announced 14 per cent reservation for economically weaker upper castes, and demanded the NDA government at the Centre do the necessary constitutional amendment. The NDA responded by forming a commission that never submitted its report.