OBC Creamy Layer Norms in Bihar

Why in news?

The Bihar government has reaffirmed that parents' salaries and agricultural income should not be counted for determining the OBC creamy layer status.

Key points

1. 1Bihar government reiterates earlier orders on OBC creamy layer income test.
2. 2Parents' salaries and agricultural earnings are excluded from income calculation for OBC creamy layer.
3. 3This clarification comes amidst the Union government's request to the Supreme Court for clarity on the income test.
4. 4The Union government had suggested that parental salaries might need to be included in some cases.
5. 5Bihar's order refers to the 1993 DoPT guidelines and subsequent state orders.

Background & context

The concept of 'creamy layer' among OBCs was introduced by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case (1992) to exclude socially advanced persons from the benefits of reservation. The income criteria for identifying the creamy layer have been a subject of debate and judicial interpretation.