Commission for raising OBC quota ceiling

Those above the ‘cut-off mark’ will be termed as “creamy layer” among OBCs and they cannot claim reservation in civil posts, services and professional courses. However, if the ceiling is fixed between Rs 4-5 lakh, then the child of parents earning Rs 45,000 a month would be eligible to avail the quota.

Though the NCBC failed to meet its June 30 deadline, sources said the commission could not submit it later when it was ready, as it could not get an appointment with the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment.

“A couple of appointments in the past were cancelled; July 1 has been fixed now. Hope this appointment is not called off,” said an official at NCBC.

Sources told The Indian Express that a majority of the states whose views were sought favoured to double the annual income ceiling for the OBC quota.

A member of NCBC, Ram Awadhesh Singh, in fact, said he wanted the ceiling to be much higher. “Personally, I feel that the ceiling should be nothing less than Rs 10 lakh. The commission, however, will take a unanimous decision on this,” Singh said.

The Rs 4-5 lakh ceiling doesn’t come as a surprise as 11 out of 20 states whose views were solicited at a meeting on June 11 in the capital, had suggested the figure to be between Rs 4 and Rs 6 lakh. Five states did not quote any figure, saying they are still considering the matter. Madhya Pradesh had wanted the ceiling to be Rs 10 lakh. The chairman of Karnataka’s backward commission had wanted it to be around Rs 25 lakh.

Many states also suggested that the economic criterion should be revised every year, taking into account the prevailing inflation rate.

The commission has reportedly incorporated recommendations of various states in its report.

The central government had expedited its efforts to revise the economic eligibility for the ‘economically forwards’ among OBCs after the Supreme Court ordered it to keep the “creamy layer” out of the quota ambit. The NCBC was thereafter asked to consult all states and recommend a revised cut-off mark to decide the eligibility for OBC quota and submit its report by June 30.