SC/ST Reservation and the Creamy Layer Debate
13 August 2026
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Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari
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SC/ST Reservation and the Creamy Layer Debate
Context: In August 2026, the Union government told the Supreme Court that the creamy-layer principle should not presently be applied to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe reservations. It argued that SC/ST reservation rests mainly on historical discrimination, untouchability, social exclusion and, for many tribal communities, geographical isolation—not merely on income.
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Explore SC/ST reservation and creamy layer debate. Know why OBC principles don't apply to SC/ST, sub-classification rules, and the landmark Davinder Singh judgment.
Keywords
SC/ST reservationcreamy layerIndra Sawhney judgmentsub-classificationOBC reservationDavinder Singhcaste discriminationsocial exclusion