Union Cabinet approves setting up of Commission to examine Sub-Categorization within OBCs

The Union Cabinet on 23 August 2017 approved the setting up of a Commission under Article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Commission will be known as the 'Commission to examine the sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes'. It will be required to submit its report within 12 weeks from the date of appointment of the Chairperson of the Commission.

Terms of References of the Commission
• It will examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the communities included in the broad category of OBCs.
• It will work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorization within OBCs.
• It will identify the respective castes, communities or sub-castes in the Central List of OBCs and classify them into their respective sub-categories.

Raising the Creamy Layer Ceiling of OBC
The Union Government raised the creamy layer ceiling of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to Rs 8 lakh per annum from the existing Rs 6 lakh for central government jobs.

Till date, there had been three revisions of the OBCs creamy layer bar. It was fixed at Rs 1 lakh in 1993 and at Rs 2.5 lakh in 2004 and was hiked to Rs 4.5 lakh in 2008. The current ceiling of Rs 6 lakh came in the year 2013.