CM okays hike in ‘creamy layer’ income cap for OBCs

Chandigarh, October 18

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today approved increase in the gross annual income limit for the “creamy layer” of the Other Backward Classes/Backward Classes from Rs6 lakh to Rs8 lakh.

The decision is in line with the Union government’s directive to ensure greater social justice and inclusion of members of the Other Backward Classes/Backward Classes in the matter of reservation. The Union Cabinet had, in August this year, decided to raise the income limit from Rs6 lakh to Rs8 lakh per annum for determining the “creamy layer” among the Other Backward Classes.

This was the fourth revision of the “creamy layer”, which was fixed at Rs1 lakh in 1993 and subsequently hiked to Rs2.5 lakh in 2004, Rs4.5 lakh in 2008 and Rs6 lakh in 2013. The move was reported to ensure more equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the OBCs. — TNS