No Income Inequality In Income Criteria Fixed For OBC, EWS Reservation Quota: Government

New Delhi: There is no inequality in income criteria fixed for OBC and EWS reservation quota, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar told in the Lok Sabha on December 3, Tuesday. In response to questions raised by JD(U) members Dinesh Chandra Yadav and Kaushalendra Kumar concerning the upper ceiling of income for creamy layer under the Other Backward Class (OBCs) and General Category reservation quota, the government made the reply.

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The parliamentarians asked is there any reasons behind the basis of inequality in the criteria fixed for the upper ceiling of income of creamy layer under OBC and General Category reservation quota and whether the government proposes to remove the said irregularity in the criteria. To which, Minister responded, “The annual income limit for determination of creamy layer both for the OBCs and for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under the General Category, is Rs. 8.00 lakh. Hence, there is no income inequality in income criteria fixed for OBC and EWS reservation quota.”

Till 2019, the reservation was provided majorly on the basis of the social and educational backwardness where caste plays a prominent role. It was after 103rd constitutional amendment in 2019, economic backwardness also taken into consideration. With regarding OBC reservation, concept of a “creamy layer” has been introduced. The creamy layer evaluates income and social status as framework to exclude some of the privileged members of the OBC community from the purview of reservation.

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In 2019, the Centre has introduced EWS reservation and it stands for Economically Weaker Section. By adding clauses for the 103rd Constitution Amendment Act, 2019, a 10% quota has been extended for the economically weaker sections of the society who were previously not part of any reservation system. The EWS quota is provided among General Category candidates for government jobs and educational institutions. For individuals to avail the EWS reservation benefit, their annual family income should be less than Rs. 8 lakh.