OBC layer just got creamier, income cap's now Rs 2.5 lakh

NEW DELHI: WITH just a couple of days left before Parliament is dissolved (as expected), the Union cabinet on Wednesday night approved the proposal to raise the income limit to determining the “creamy layer� (socially advanced) among OBCs to Rs 2.5 lakh from the existing Rs 1 lakh. A meeting of the cabinet, chaired by the PM, approved the recommendations of the National Commission for Backward Classes, which has been entrusted with the task of taking up the modification of the income criteria.
The move will benefit the children of persons belonging to OBCs with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh. They will not be considered under the “creamy layer� and will get benefits of 27% reservation in direct recruitment in civil posts and services, an official spokesman said.
The cabinet also approved the signing of a framework agreement on a BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Co-operation) free trade area to boost trade and economic co-operation among these countries.
The agreement, which is part of the government’s “Look East� policy, will liberalise and promote trade in goods and services, and create a transparent, liberal and facilitative investment. The member countries have also agreed to negotiate expeditiously to establish the BIMST-EC free trade area to strengthen and enhance economic co-operation.
Other proposals cleared by the cabinet included signing of treaties on provision of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters signed by the government with Thailand and South Korea. The treaties provide for the widest measure of mutual co-operation to combat crime in the form of prevention, investigation, prosecution and suppression of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the foreign and Indian governments. The treaties will not apply to the arrest or detention of any person with a view to his or her extradition. India has signed similar treaties with several countries including UK, Canada, France, Russia, USA, UAE, Turkey and Switzerland.
The Cabinet has also approved the proposal to construct an approach road to Dwarka sub-city with the government approving the transfer of 46.5 acres at the Delhi cantonement to the DDA in exchange for equal value land. The new road will ease traffic congestion and smoothen traffic flow to Dwarka. The DDA will give 70 acres at Dwarka Phase-I to the defence department.