Kolkata/IBNS, June 11 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said backwardness is the only benchmark to decide the Other Backward Class (OBC) status, rejecting the Opposition's charge that her government was planning to make reservations on the basis of religion.

Mamata made the remark at the state assembly laying down the annual report of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes for the fiscal year 2024-25.

The state cabinet on Monday included 76 castes to the OBC list.

The 76 castes will be added to the existing 64 castes in the list, the daily reported.

The Calcutta High Court last year cancelled all Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010.

The verdict was given by a divi...