OBC non creamy layer income limit
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.745
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2023
DETERMINATION OF OBC NON-CREAMY LAYER
745. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has the details of the revision of Income criteria for determining OBC Non-Creamy Layer status of candidates over the years, including the latest revision;
(b) if so, the details thereof for the last twenty five years;
(c) whether the Government has received any recommendation to revise the present income criteria of Rupees Eight Lakh per annum and if so, the details thereof:
(d) whether the Government proposes to revise the limit to Rupees Twelve Lakh before the completion of the next financial year; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)
(a) & (b): The income criteria for determining OBC Non- Creamy layer status of candidates was fixed as Rs.1.00 lakh per annum at the time of introduction of the OBC reservation scheme on 08.09.1993. This income limit has since been revised four times so far, as under:
Income limit (Annual) | Date of Revision | |
First | Rs. 2.5 lakhs | 9.3.2004 |
Second | Rs. 4.5 lakhs | 14.10.2008 |
Third | Rs. 6.0 lakhs | 27.5.2013 |
Fourth | Rs. 8.0 lakhs | 13.9.2017 |
(c): The Department officially have not sought the recommendation from National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) for revision of the existing OBC Creamy layer criteria.
(d) & (e): There is no proposal for revision of the OBC Non-Creamy Layer limit since the existing income limit is considered sufficient.
Narendra Bisht says
Subject: Request to Revise OBC Non-Creamy Layer Income Limit
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a private sector employee from the OBC category, writing to request an upward revision of the ₹8 lakh income limit for Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) eligibility, which has remained unchanged since 2017.
Due to inflation and rising living costs, many genuine OBC families are now excluded from NCL benefits, despite not being economically advanced. This is particularly unfair to private employees, who do not enjoy post-based exemptions like government servants.
I kindly urge you to consider revising the limit to reflect current economic realities and ensure fair access to reservation benefits.
Thank you for your attention.