Are you applying for a job or a college soon? Did you come across the terms Creamy Layer or Non-Creamy Layer in the application form? Do you belong to the reserved category but are not sure if you fit into the Creamy Layer? What do the two terms mean and how is one eligible for the certificates? What are the benefits provided to those belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer?
In this article, find answers to all of the above and the relevance of the term in the present scenario. You can also read about the ways that one can obtain a Non-Creamy Layer Certificate and the consequences of providing a fake certificate.
How to Obtain a Non-Creamy Layer Certificate?
Before learning about the certification for NCL, let us understand what the term Non-Creamy Layer means.
What is a Non-Creamy Layer?
The reservation system in India was introduced as a tool to provide equal opportunities to the marginalised and underprivileged communities. Under the system, people belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections were given the benefit of reservation of a few seats in the civic jobs and educational institutions.
In the year 1971, the Sattanathan Commission suggested that people belonging to the marginalised sections of the society who have a stable income of INR 1 lakh (8 lakh in 2020) should be exempted from the benefits of reservations and be termed as the Creamy Layer. The concept was initially just acceptable for the OBC. People who did not come under the Creamy Layerincome limit prescribed and earned a lesser amount were called the Non-Creamy Layer.
Also Read: What is OBC Creamy Layer?
How do I know if I belong to the Non-Creamy Layer?
People belonging to the NCL include people from OBC categories with the following categories:
- People who belong to the OBC category.
- People who are not the offsprings of Supreme Court judges, Group A/B class officers, employees of PSUs and the armed forces
- The parents’ income for the past 3 years is less than 8 lakhs per annum
- If the parents have government jobs, their income limit must be confined to the prescribed income by the government for NCL.
Also Read: What is Non-Creamy Layer?
How to apply for the Non-Creamy Layer Certificate?
If you want to complete the whole process offline, you need to find a ₹20 stamp paper, an affidavit, signed documents that include your proof of identity, citizenship, caste, and income for the past 3 years. On the other hand, you can also apply for the certificate online with the mentioned documents, scanned copies of your photograph and signature, and an online payment method. The form can be submitted online as well as offline on a kiosk. It should be noted that the form should be filled on the official website of the resident state, and it should be renewed once every year.
Consequences of Presenting a fake NCL Certificate
While applying for admissions to jobs and educational institutions with a fake NCL Certificate seems like a great opportunity to bag, there are severe consequences for people who’ve done the deed in the past. In 2019, charge-sheet was filed under the Indian Penal code against a father-son duo Rajeev Bhanudas Chaudhari and Swaraj Chaudhary when the latter was found to have produced a fake NCL Certificate to avail admission in a first-year diploma course of civil engineering.
In July 2020, IAS Officer Asif K. Yusuf from the Kerala government was disqualified and terminated from service for the same offence. His hearing is scheduled for the 25th of October 2020.
Also Read: The difference between Creamy and Non-Creamy Layer in OBC
Conclusion
It can thus be concluded that an NCL is a term applied for people belonging to OBC Category below the income limit of 8 lakh per annum. It is illegal to obtain the NCL certificate if you do not belong to the category and people who have committed the crime have had to deal with severe consequences.
We hope the article helped clear all your doubts about the term and gave you some clarity on the recent issue regarding the same. For more such blog updates for your UPSC preparation, you can subscribe here.
