8. Is there any provision for the revision of the Central Lists and if so, how is this done?

Yes. The underlying philosophy of periodic revision is that reservation is for those backward classes who need it and who are handicapped without it and not for those who after availing themselves of and enjoying the benefits of reservation have ceased to be backward. Castes/communities which have advanced to the level of forward sections of the society should yield place to those who have not reached this stage of development and are in greater need of reservation. As such there is need for exclusion of such castes/communities which have advanced socially and educationally, from the list of backward classes.

With this end in view and in keeping with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney & ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. Case, the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 provides for a decennial revision. Section 11 of the Act reads as under:-

1. "The Central Government may at any time and shall at the expiration of ten years from the coming into force of this Act and every succeeding period of ten years thereafter, undertake revision of the lists with a view to excluding from such lists those classes which have ceased to be backward classes or for including in such lists new backward classes;
2. The Central Government shall, while undertaking any revision referred to in sub-section (1) consult the Commission.

Government in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment have entrusted the task of identifying backward classes which have ceased to be backward, for the purpose of revising the lists, as envisaged under section 11 of the Act, to the Commission.