Government ministries yet to finalize OBC creamy layer income criteria

In Brief

1. OBC creamy layer income test policy is delayed between ministries.
2. House panel chief urges Social Justice Ministry to formulate policy per Supreme Court judgment.
3. Creamy layer income test issue impacts welfare of OBC communities.
4. Policy must be finalised before Cabinet presentation, says official statement.

The welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in India faces delays over the formulation of the creamy layer income test. Ganesh Singh, chief of the House panel on OBC welfare, highlighted that the issue is stuck between ministries.

According to Singh, the Social Justice Ministry should take charge and draft the policy based on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the income test delivered in March 2026. After formulating the policy, it must be brought to the Cabinet for approval.

The delay has raised concerns as the creamy layer income criteria are critical for defining eligibility for OBC reservations and welfare schemes. Authorities have emphasized the importance of aligning the policy strictly with the Supreme Court’s guidelines to ensure legal compliance and social justice.

Singh’s statement underscores the need for swift action from the Social Justice Ministry to resolve inter-ministerial delays and finalise the policy framework for effective implementation benefiting OBC communities nationwide.