- The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of the Other Backward Classes(OBCs) panel headed by Justice (Retd) G. Rohini.
- The panel was formed to review the creamy layer criteria for OBCs set by the Prasad Committee in 1993.
- The committee is supposed to work out a mechanism,criteria,norms and parameters for the sub-categorisation within the OBCs in the Central list so that the benefits of reservation are distributed equitably.
- Other Backward Class(OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify castes which are socially and educationally disadvantaged.
- In 1980,Mandal Commission was set up by the erstwhile government.It estimated the OBC population at 52% and classified 1,257 communities as backward.It recommended increasing the existing quotas which were only for SC/ST,from 22.5% to 49.5% to include the OBCs.Its recommendations were implemented by the then government in 1990.
- In Indra Sawhney case,the Supreme court had upheld the caste-based reservation for the OBCs as valid.The court had also said the creamy layer of OBCs should not get the benefits of reservation.
- At present,27% quota in government jobs and educational institutions is given to OBCs,provided the annual income of the family is up to Rs 8 lakh.Those with higher earnings are referred to as the ‘creamy layer’ and are not eligible for reservation.
- Creamy layer is a term used to refer to the relatively wealthier and better educated members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).They are not eligible for government sponsored educational and professional benefit programs.
