OBCs: who and where

QUOTA: 25 per cent in education and government employment.

PROMINENT FACES: K. Keshav Rao and Deputy Leader of Opposition, T Devender Goud.

BIHAR

WHO: Divided into two categories. 109 groups of Extremely Backward Classes and 32 the OBCs. The latter includes Yadavs, Kurmis, Banias, Koeri.

QUOTA: 33 per cent in government jobs as well as educational institutes of the state government.

PROMINENT FACES: Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar

KARNATAKA

WHO: 203 communities that are further divided on the basis of degree of backwardness. Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva Lingayats are two dominant groups.

QUOTA: 32 per cent in education and government employment. Creamy layer is excluded.

PROMINENT FACES: Almost all of Karnataka8217;s top politicians belong to OBC groups. H D Devegowda, S M Krishna, J H Patel, S Bangarappa.

KERALA

WHO: 68 communities. Ezhavas, Muslims, Latin Catholics, Nadars, Scheduled Castes converted to Christianity, Dheevara, Vishwakarmas and a few other groups.

QUOTA: 40 per cent for government jobs.

PROMINENT FACES: Pinarayi Vijayan and Achuthanandan, Vayalar Ravi of the Congress.

MADHYA PRADESH

WHO: 356 on the list including 90 Muslim groups. Others include those traditionally engaged in animal husbandry, carpenters, wall painters, washermen, weavers, fishermen, tailors, potters, barbers, bangle sellers.

QUOTA: 14 per cent in education and government jobs.

PROMINENT FACES: Uma Bharti, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former CM Babulal Gaur.

MAHARASHTRA

WHO: Traditional skilled workforce of the village community as well as educationally backward sections among converted Christians. State government added 35 more communities six months ago, taking the total number to 344. The newly included communities include East Indian Christians.

QUOTA: 19 per cent in education and employment.

PROMINENT FACES: Chhagan Bhujbal, Gopinath Munde

Gujarat

WHO: 138 communities including Parmars, Prajapatis, Modis, Koli Patels, over 20 castes from the Muslim community and another 20 from other communities, potters and tailors.

QUOTA: 27 per cent in all state government employment and state funded education institutes.

PROMINENT FACES: Narendra Modi8212;he8217;s from the Ghachi community.

RAJASTHAN

WHO: 110 groups, prominent among them Jat, Yadav, Mali, Saini, Gurjar, Vishnoi, Lodhi, Raisikh, Charan, Meo, Kayamkhani, Darji tailor, Nai barber, Kotwal, Chobdar.

QUOTA: 21 per cent in jobs and medical and engineering colleges.

PROMINENT FACES: Ashok Gehlot, Sis Ram Ola

TAMIL NADU

WHO: 256 groups including Vanniyars Most Backward Caste who comprise roughly about 35 per cent of the OBCs.

QUOTA: 50 per cent in education and government employment.

PROMINENT FACES: M Karunanidhi

UTTAR PRADESH

WHO: 79 groups including Yadav, Sonar, Jatav, Kurmi, Giri, Gujar, Gosai, Lodh and Kamboj.

QUOTA: 27 per cent in educational institutes and government jobs.

PROMINENT FACES: Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chaudhary Ajit Singh RLD, Beni Prasad Verma SP, Kalyan Singh BJP.

WEST BENGAL

WHO: 64 groups including Tili, Sadgop, Satchashi, Napit.

QUOTA: 7 per cent in government and government-aided schools and in government jobs.