OBC Creamy Layer Income Limit To Be Raised To Fill Central Quotas  

New Delhi, Aug 28: With a large number of vacancies in government jobs meant for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) remaining unfilled for want of candidates, the Central government is mulling relaxing the ‘creamy layer’ criterion by raising the income ceiling to Rs eight lakh annually.

27 percent of seats in government jobs and educational institutions are reserved for OBCs provided the annual income of the family is up to Rs six lakh. Those who earn above that are considered as the creamy layer and are not eligible for reservation.

The ceiling was revised from its original Rs.4.50 lakh to Rs.6.00 lakh in 2013, but still a large portion of jobs and seats in national level educational institutions are lying vacant due to the limit. Raising the ceiling would result in a larger pool of candidates eligible for government jobs and seats in educational institutions.

The Social Justice Ministry is working on a proposal to raise the annual income ceiling of OBCs to Rs 8 lakh, according to official sources. A Cabinet note is likely to be moved in this regard soon, they said.

When contacted, National Comission for Backward Classes (NCBC) Member Ashok Saini told PTI that the panel had recommended more than doubling the income ceiling to Rs 15 lakh. Even two decades after reservation (was introduced), out of 27 percent allocated quota, it has been seen that only 12-15 percent get utilised. As per our analysis, the major reason behind this is the ceiling on annual income, Saini said.

As per Mandal Comission report, in 1980 OBCs constituted 52 percent of India’s population. The panel’s report was based on the 1931 census. The National Sample Survey Organisation had in 2006 pegged the OBC population at 41 percent. --PTI