The union cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for amending the central list of Other Backward  Classes (OBCs) to include Sipai and Patni Jamat or Turk Jamat (all Muslims) of Gujarat and Kahar and Tanwar Singhariya of Uttarakhand.

The decision in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taken as per the advice received from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

"The amendments will enable the persons belonging to these castes/communities to avail the benefits of reservation in government services and posts as well as in central educational institutions as per the existing policy," said an official statement.

"They will also become eligible for benefit under various welfare schemes, scholarships etc. being administered by the central government, which are at present available to persons belonging to the OBCs," it added.

The cabinet also proposed to notify a total of two changes recommended by NCBC in respect of two states.