The correct answer is three Explanation & Key Takeaways: The Constitution 105th amendment act, 2021 • The Constitution (One Hundred and Fifth Amendment) Act, 2021 came into effect on 15 August 2021 • The 105th Amendment Act restores the power of State Governments and Union Territories to identify the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs). • The Constitution 105th amendment act Amended Articles 338B, 342A, and 366 of the constitution. • The Constitution gave both the Union and the States the power to recognize who these SEBCs (commonly referred to as OBCs) are. Historically, the States have taken the lead in recognizing SEBCs. It was only in 1992 that the Union recognized any OBCs. In total, the States recognize 671 more communities as SEBCs than the Union. • the 102nd Constitutional amendment expands the powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). It also laid down the procedure by which the Union could recognize SEBCs. • Recently Maharashtra legislature passed a law to recognize the Marathas as an SEBC and provide them with reservations. It was when this was challenged in the Supreme Court that a majority of three out of five judges held that the 102nd Amendment had taken away States’ powers to recognize SEBCs. • The intent of the 102nd Amendment was not to take away the power of States to recognize SEBCs. There was unanimous demand for overturning the Supreme Court’s verdict. Soon, a Bill was tabled in Parliament that clarified that States have the power to identify SEBCs. Within two days, it was passed with universal approval in both houses and came into force on August 19th as the 105th Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2021 (‘105th Amendment’).