Punjab government approves increment on income cap for ‘creamy layer’ of OBCs

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday approved an increase in gross annual income limit for the creamy layer of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Backward Classes from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. The decision is in line with the central government’s directive to ensure greater social justice and inclusion of members of the OBC and Backward Classes in the matter of reservation, said an official spokesperson. [caption id=“attachment_4156933” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. PTI[/caption] The Union cabinet had, in August this year, decided to raise the income limit from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum for determining the creamy layer among the OBC. This was the fourth revision of the creamy layer, which was fixed at Rs 1 lakh in 1993 and subsequently hiked to Rs 2.5 lakh in 2004, Rs 4.5 lakh in 2008 and Rs 6 lakh in 2013. The move is reported to be aimed at ensuring more equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the OBCs. The decks have now been cleared for the issuance of the necessary notification by the department of welfare of scheduled castes, backward classes, and minorities, the spokesman added.