Recent changes to creamy layer income limit 2017 onwards

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Detailed Solution

On 13 September 2017, the Government raised the creamy-layer income ceiling from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh per annum for determining OBC creamy layer status; the change took effect from 01 September 2017. Multiple DoPT/NCBC circulars since then reiterate the ₹8 lakh figure.

Despite periodic public discussions on revising it further, recent reports (October 2025) indicate the Centre has no immediate plan to raise the limit, so ₹8 lakh remains the operational cap as of today (10 November 2025).

Keep in mind that this cap is for the “income test” component; income from salaries and agricultural land is excluded while applying this test, and separate service-status exclusions may independently apply.

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