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Controversy around OBC quota due to Puja Khedkar case.
Khedkar's OBC-NCL certificate questioned.
Khedkar's background raises doubt: medical doctor, daughter of retired civil servant (Lok Sabha candidate with ₹40 crore assets).
Main question: How did she qualify for "non-creamy layer" status?
OBC reservation aims to give government jobs to disadvantaged communities.
A "creamy layer" exclusion prevents wealthy OBC families from benefiting.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is accused of applying two different income tests for OBC candidates.
Some OBCs (like children of certain officials) can exclude parental income from the test.
Other OBCs parental income is counted towards the limit, potentially disqualifying them.
Exceptions were carved out of these exclusions: for instance, children of MPs and MLAs; government officials who have been promoted, not hired, into senior positions; owners of unirrigated agricultural land, and others are all now eligible for OBC quotas
Different government ministries have provided conflicting information about the income test.
Social Justice Ministry says one test for all OBCs (excluding income from salaries and agriculture).
DoPT says different rules for exempt vs. other OBC categories.
This inconsistency has caused controversy, with some OBC candidates feeling they were wrongly denied benefits.
Current Status: A court case is ongoing to decide the validity of DoPT's dual income test approach.
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