Lucknow, May 19 -- The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Monday gave its approval for setting up a dedicated commission to reserve seats for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the three-tier panchayat raj institutions - the rural local self-government system.

The five-member Uttar Pradesh State Rural Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission will be headed by a retired judge of the high court. The commission is expected to submit its report within the six-month tenure of the chairperson and members.

As the five-year tenure of present three-tier panchayat raj institutions, elected in 2021, will expire in a staggered manner between late May and mid-July 2026, the elections for new panchayats may possibly be held only after UP assembly p...