Punjab CM Amarinder Singh approves hike in income limit of OBCs

The Punjab government has approved an increase in the gross annual income limit for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Backward Classes from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.

The decision has been taken with the central government’s directive, which ensures greater social justice and inclusion of members of the OBCs and Backward Classes in the matter of reservation, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In August 2017, the Union Cabinet had decided to increase the income limit from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum. The decision was taken to determine the creamy layer among the OBCs.

The revision has been done for the fifth time for the creamy layer. It was first fixed at Rs 1 lakh in 1993, which was revised to Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 4.5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh in 2004, 2008 & 2013 respectively.

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The move is reported to be aimed at ensuring more equitable distribution of reservation benefits among the OBCs.

The decks have now been cleared for issuance of the necessary notification by the department of welfare of scheduled castes, backward classes and minorities, the spokesman said.

(With PTI inputs)

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