India seeks Supreme Court relief on OBC creamy layer criteria for UPSC exams

The Government of India is seeking clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the implementation of a March 11 judgment concerning OBC creamy layer criteria. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has requested an exemption from applying the new ruling to the UPSC Civil Services Examination for the 2025 and 2026 cycles.

The Supreme Court previously ruled in the case of Government of India vs Rohit Nathan that a candidate's creamy layer status cannot be determined solely by parental income or salary. The court held that parental social status must also be considered and noted that previous distinctions between government employees and those in the private sector or PSUs violated constitutional rights to equality.

The Centre has expressed concern that immediate implementation could cause significant administrative hurdles, particularly regarding cadre and service allocation for the 958 candidates recommended by the UPSC. The Supreme Court has agreed to consider forming a special bench to hear the government's plea.