Ganesh Singh Clarifies Remarks on OBC Creamy Layer Income Test
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ganesh Singh, chief of the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), clarified on Saturday that his previous remarks regarding the OBC creamy layer income test and the equivalence of posts were not intended to question the Union government's commitment to the welfare and empowerment of the OBC community.
The clarification followed his earlier remarks indicating that the issue of establishing post equivalence and applying the income test appeared stuck between two Union ministries, and that the Union Social Justice Ministry should ideally formulate the policy. In a statement issued from his office, Mr. Singh explained that his remarks were meant to seek clarity and uniformity on technical and administrative matters so eligible candidates do not face difficulties.
Mr. Singh attributed the administrative stalemate between the ministries to a 2004 clarificatory letter issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The Parliamentary Committee under his leadership had previously concluded that this letter had obfuscated the implementation of the creamy layer policy, leading to incorrect application of the income test for candidates whose parents worked in positions without established equivalence to government posts.
The controversy intensified following the Centre's submissions to the Supreme Court stating that it was finding it extremely difficult to implement a March 11 judgment. In that ruling, the Supreme Court held that the DoPT was practising hostile discrimination by including salary income for OBC candidates whose parents held non-equivalent posts while excluding it for those with parents in government service, directing the government to create supernumerary posts within six months.
Defending the central administration, Mr. Singh cited data showing a 370 percent increase in the overall budget allocation for OBC welfare schemes between 2004-05 and 2024-25. He also noted an increase of over nine percentage points in OBC representation in Central government services between 2014 and 2026, alongside a near-doubling of cumulative scheme beneficiaries.
Mr. Singh added that the issue had largely been addressed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership when equivalence of posts was established for Central Public Sector Undertakings in 2017. He confirmed that the parliamentary committee has already placed its views on record and suggested measures to resolve the remaining procedural complications.
