<P> Creamy layer is a term used in Indian politics to refer to the relatively forward and better educated members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who are not eligible for government - sponsored educational and professional benefit programs . The term was introduced by the Sattanathan Commission in 1971, which directed that the "creamy layer" should be excluded from the reservations (quotas) of civil posts . </P> <P> The creamy layer (income) criteria were defined as annual family income from all sources more than 100,000 rupees (₹ or INR, together abbreviated Rs 1 lakh) per annum in 1993, and revised to ₹ 2.5 lakh (2004), then ₹ 4.5 lakh (2008), Rs 6 lakh (2013) and Rs 8 lakh (2017). In October 2015, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) proposed that a person belonging to OBC with an annual family income of up to Rs 15 lakh should be considered as the minimum ceiling for OBC . The NCBC also recommended the sub-division of OBCs into' backward',' more backward', and' extremely backward' blocs and divide 27% quota amongst them in proportion to their population, to ensure that stronger OBCs don't corner the quota benefits . </P>

Creamy layer and non creamy layer in obc