Intervene to ensure fair application of OBC income test in civil services exams: Manickam Tagore to PM

Congress leader Manickam Tagore has recently written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to remove discrimination in how the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) applies the income test for determining the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) status of selected OBC candidates whose parents work in public sector bodies.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore has recently written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to remove discrimination in how the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) applies the income test for determining the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) status of selected OBC candidates whose parents work in public sector bodies.

“These candidates are currently facing significant obstacles related to the verification of their OBC Non-Creamy Layer status, which is preventing them from joining their designated services,” Mr. Tagore wrote to Mr. Modi, who heads the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, under which the UPSC operates.

“The current situation has caused undue distress to OBC candidates who have earned their positions through merit, but are being unjustly denied due to procedural ambiguities,” the Congress MP said.

Mr. Tagore has sought a “clear and inclusive policy” for determining the NCL status of OBC candidates, uniform implementation of the income test for children of all public sector bodies, and transparency in the verification process.

He said that the core issue in these cases was the UPSC’s refusal to accept the NCL certificates issued by State government authorities that confirm the Class III/IV status of OBC candidates’ parents who work in Central and State public sector undertakings and public sector banks.

Further, he added that the income test was being applied unevenly for children of those working in Central/State governments and children of those working in PSUs, PSBs, and various other public sector bodies – an issue that is being litigated in the Supreme Court.

“The prevailing interpretation (of income test) seems to favour those employed in Central and State government roles, thereby disadvantaging candidates from other sectors,” Mr. Tagore said.