Definition of OBC

What is Other Backward Classes (or OBCs) ?
The OBCs in India are a group of castes officially recognized as being traditionally subject to exclusion, while still having a higher status than Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. OBCs comprise about half of India's population, and are entitled to 27% of the job reservations in Government employment and other benefits and concessions.

What are the different kinds of OBCs ?
The Government of India and State Government of Maharashtra has from time to time declared different communities and castes as OBCs.

Are East Indians included in list of OBCs. ?
Recently the Maharashtra State Cabinet took a decision to include East Indian Christians and East Indian Catholics in the list of State OBCs. However, Central Government is yet to include East Indians in the category of OBCs. At present the Central Government list only includes Christians converted from Scheduled Castes and Christian Kolis in the list of OBCs.

When can one avail the benefits of OBCs under the State List ?
As soon as the decision to include East Indians in the OBC List of the State is published in the Maharashtra State Official Gazette and thereafter the OBC Caste Certificate is obtained.

Procedure for OBC

What is the procedure required to be followed to obtain OBC Caste Certificate.?
A person intending to apply for OBC Certificate has to apply through his parents if alive or through any senior member of the family to Deputy District Collector or City District Collector as the case may be, through the Office of the Tahsildar ( Competent Authority ). Tahsildars Offices are situated at Old Custom House, Fort, Bandra (W), Andheri (W) Near Bhavans College, Borivali (W), Kurla, Mulund etc. The preprinted application form ( in Marathi ) should be obtained from said offices and should be submitted along with necessary documentary evidences. Kindly affix Rs.5/- Court Fee stamp on the said application form. Please note that a Caste Certificate issued by any person, officer or authority other than the Competent Authority is invalid.

Procedure (Step by Step)

Collect form from Thasildar office
Fill up the form
Make an Affidavit
Submit the form to the Thasildar office with documents and affidavit
Please note that no one else besides that Govt. can give an OBC certificate.
Also, currently (11th april 06) ther isn't any body who is given the right, by the government to cretify who is or is not an East Indian. For such another application has to be made to the Govt. The Govt. will scrutinize their track record and then take a decision, which will take it's own course and time.
What the Tahsildar will look for is the word "East Indian" in the attached documents.
There are quite a few East Indians who have their (/ their father's / their Grandfather's) birth certificates which categorically have East Indians over there. It is noticed that quite a few have such written on the School records (School Leaving Certificates)

Please note that receiving the OBC certificate in itself it of no use for jobs, admission etc. In order to be able to apply one must also have an ELEGIBILITY CERTIFICATE. It is in this that we undertake to say that we do not fall within the CREAMY LAYER.

On receiving the elegibility certificate, one can apply for job, admission and a host of benefits.

OBC Form and Translation

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Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribes,_______ and Other Backward Castes Application Form

Affix Rs. 5 Court Fee Stamp.

To,

Hon. Deputy Collector,

___(Taluka Name)____ Taluka Office,

Mumbai.

Subject: Application of _____(East Indian)____________ SC / ST /OBC Certificate.

Respected Sir,

I, the undersigned, Mr. / Mrs. ________(Name & Surname)______________ do hereby apply for myself / my son / my daughter the ____(OBC)__________ Certificate. For this I submit the below mentioned information :-

1. Applicants

a. Full Name :

b. Full Address:

c. Present Occupation :

d. Traditional Occupation :

2. Fathers

a. Full Name:

b. Full Address :
(If father is not alive, his last residential address)

c. Present Occupation:

d. Traditional Occupation:

e. Mother Tongue :

f. Spoken Language :

3. Person who wants certification

a. Name and Age :

b. Year and Reason of Leaving Native Place:

c. Purpose of residing at the Present Place:

Fathers Birth / Death Certificate :

School Leaving Certificate / School Registration Certificate:

Service Registration of Government Employee :

Any other proof :

For the caste certificate, have you applied to any other competent Authority before ?

On 10th August 1950, the applicants fathers native place, village name and Taluka :

If the applicant is out of Maharashtra State, proof of residence from that Districts Competent Authority be submitted.

I am a permanent resident of ___(Village Name)____Village, ___(Taluka Name)___ Taluka for reasons of job / education, or any other temporary reason, do hereby promise that the above written information is true, to the best of my knowledge, and if it is false, I will be liable for punishment under IPC 199 / 200 (13) (2) for three years imprisonment.

Date: Applicants Signature

Where are the Tahsildars offices ?

The offices of the Tahsildars are based on the territorial jurisdiction :

Old Custom House, Fort (for Mahim, Sion and City)
Andheri (West), Near Bhavan's College. (for Bandra upto Jogeshwari)
Borivili (West), Near Topiwalla College (for Kurla upto Mulund)
Thana (West), Near Railway Station (for Thana, Vasai and Raigad)

Documentary Evidence

What is documentary evidence one needs to submit to obtain OBC Caste Certificate or the Validity Certificate.?

If a person is a permanent resident of a particular area/locality, then Caste Certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the same area/locality to any other person.
Copy of the Primary or Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
Copy of the extract of the Register for Primary or Secondary School, where the person was last studying, notifying his Religion or Caste
If the person is in Government Service, then copy of service record to be provided.
Copy of Primary or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or the Birth or Death Certificate of the Father.
Copy of the Caste Certificate of the Father/Uncle/Cousin Brother or Sister/other elderly family members or copy of their Birth Certificate. Or if any of above persons are in Government service then, their service record notifying their Religion/Caste.
Copy of Ration Card as Proof of Residence.
A letter from the Registered Society of the Caste,if any.

Benefits given under OBC

What are benefits of OBC Caste Certificate.?
There are number of benefits one can avail. Certain percentage of seats are specifically reserved in all professional degree and diploma colleges for OBC Category viz Medicine, Engineering, Architecture. There are certain percentage of jobs also reserved in State Government, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagarpalika, State Government undertaking like S.T., MSEB, High Court and other Courts, Police, BEST etc. Seats are also reserved for contesting elections.

After obtaining OBC Caste Certificate from the Competent Authority, whether one can get reservation in education or job automatically.?
The State Government has constituted a Scrutiny Committee for verification of Caste Certificates issued by the Competent Authority. The office of the Scrutiny Committee is located at Konkan Bhavan, 6^th Floor, Extension Building, Room No.71, New Bombay 400 614. One has to carry the original OBC Caste Certificate and all supporting original documents which were submitted earlier while obtaining Caste Certificates from the Competent Authority. For the said purpose one has to make an application well in advance, in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed to the Scrutiny Committee for the verification of such Caste Certificates and issuance of a validity certificate. The students who wish to apply for Medicine, Engineering, Architecture etc. under the OBC quota are required to attach the copy of the caste certificate at the time of admission to the said courses. However, at the time of selection to the said courses, one needs to submit validity certificate. It is therefore recommended that those students who are studying in F.Y.J.C or Std. XI ( Science ) should apply to the Scrutiny Committee well before 30^th November for the relevant year.

What are the various benefits and concessions given by the State Government to OBCs?
Maharashtra State Other Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation ( MSOBCFDC ) is a Government of Maharashtra undertaking Company under Social Justice, Welfare, Cultural Affairs Department. The Corporation has been established on 25.09.1998 with the objective of economic and development activities for the benefit of Other Backward Classes in the State and to the assist the weaker section of the target group in skill development and self-employment activities. The following facilities are extended by the MSOBCFDC.

Term Loan :
Under this scheme, the project cost is up to Rs. 5 lacs out of which 85% loans is sectioned by the Central Corporation. 10% State Corporation and 5% beneficiaries. However, as per the guidelines of the Central Corporation 75% proposals are to be sanctioned having project cost up to Rs. 50,000/- and 25% proposal should be sanctioned having project cost from Rs.50,000/- to Rs. 5 lacs.

Margin Money Schemes :
Under this scheme 50% is Bank loan, 40% is Central Corporation Loan, 5% each is from State Corporation and beneficiary and project cost is Rs. up to 5 lacs. Rate of interest for the 40% Central Corporation loan between 6% and State Corporation loan carry the rate of interest @ 6% and Bank charges their Rate of interest as per their terms and conditions.

Micro finance :
Under this Scheme Non-Governmental Organizations which have established the Self Help Groups (SHG) are granted loans up to Rs 5 lacs for disbursement of SHGs. The NGO is expected to distribute this loan to the members of the OBC, the upper limit per beneficiary is Rs.20,000/-. The loan is granted to the NGO @ 5% and NGO is expected to grant the loan to SHG @ 9%. The loan is repayable within 36 months.

Mahila Samrudhi Yojana :
Under this scheme the loan is sanctioned to Self Help Group up to Rs. 5 lacs for disbursement to the 20 members of Self Help Group. The maximum limit to per member is Rs. 25,000/-. The loan is granted to the members of SHG @ 4% p.a.

Swarnima Scheme :
With a view of empowerment of the women, Central Corporation has introduced this scheme from the current financial year. Under this scheme women having income upto the below poverty level are sanctioned loans up to Rs. 50,000/- for small activity, which carry the interest @ 4% only. The women beneficiaries are not require to contribute 5% and repayment period 2 year more than the normal scheme.

Education Loan :
The scheme was introduced during last year. Under the scheme education loan is sanctioned to beneficiaries of the Corporation who have secured admission in the professional courses e.g. Health Sciences, Engineering, Computer, Management etc in the institutions which have been approved by the Central Councils. The Minimum Loan p.a. is Rs. 75,000 and Maximum Amount of Loan is Rs. 3 lacs which carry interest @ 4%. The loan is repayable after 6 months of the completion of the course in 5 years' period.

Swayam Saksham Scheme :

In order to inculcate the spirit of self-confidence among youths through self-employment and utilize their wisdom and expense gained through professional training and education the Corporation may consider providing financial assistance at concessional rate of interest to these professionally trained youths belonging to Backward Classes. Under this scheme loan upto Rs., 5.00 lakhs is sanctioned for starting the activities @ 5%. The beneficiaries between the age group of 18 to 35 are eligible under this scheme. Other conditions are similar to other schemes.

Eligibility & Exceptions

Who are eligible for OBC Caste Certificate.?

All East Indian are eligible, except the creamy layer of persons (list attached)

What is Creamy Layer?

The Government of India has evolved the criteria for exclusion of certain socially advanced persons/sections from the benefits of reservation available to OBCs in civil posts and services under the Government of India and this is called the "Creamy Layer criteria"

Persons/Sections Excluded from Reservation which constitute Creamy Layer of the Society

Creamy Layer

Description of category	To whom rule of exclusion will apply
I. Constitutional Posts	Sons and daughter(s) of (a) President of India; (b) Vice-President of India; (c) Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts; (d) Chairman and Members of UPSC and of the State Public Service Commission; Chief Election Commissioner; Comptroller and Auditor-General of India; (e) Persons holding constitutional positions of like nature.
II. Service Category A. Group A/Class I Officers of the All India Central and State Services (Direct Recruits)	Son(s) and daughter(s) of (a) parents, both of whom are Class I officers; (b) parents, either of whom is a Class I officer; c) parents, both of whom are Class I officers, but one of them dies or suffers permanent incapacitation; (d) parents, either of whom is a Class I officer and such parents dies or suffers permanent incapacitation and before such death or such incapacitation has had the benefit of employment in any International Organisation like UN, IMF, World bank, etc., for a period of not less than 5 years; (e) parents, both of whom are Class I officers die or suffer permanent incapacitation and before such death or such incapacitation of the both either of them has had the benefit of employment in any International Organisation like UN, IMF, World Bank, etc. for a period of not less than 5 years; Provided that the rule of exclusion shall not apply in the following cases :- (a) Sons and daughters of parents either of whom or both of whom are Class I officers and such parent(s) dies/die or suffer permanent incapacitation; (b) A lady belonging to OBC category has got married to a Class I officer, and may herself like to apply for job.
B. Group B/Class II Officers of the Central and State Services (Direct Recruitment)	Son(s) and daughter(s) of (a) parents, both of whom are Class II officers; (b) parents of whom only the husband is a Class II officer and he gets into Class I at the age of 40 or earlier; (c) parents, both of whom are Class II officers and one of them dies or suffers permanent incapacitation and either one of them has had the benefit of employment in any International Organisation UN, IMF, World Bank, etc., for a period of not less than 5 years before such death or permanent incapacitation; (d) parents of whom the husband is a Class I officer (direct recruitment or pre-forty promoted) and the wife is a Class II officer and the wife dies; or suffers permanent incapacitation; and (e) Parents, of whom the wife is a Class I officer (Direct Recruit or pre-forty promoted) and the husband is a Class II officer and the husband dies or suffers permanent incapacitation; Provided that the rule of exclusion shall not apply in the following cases:- Sons and daughters of (a) Parents both of whom are Class II officers and one of them dies or suffers permanent incapacitation. (b) Parents, both of whom are Class II officers and both of them die or suffer permanent incapacitation, even though either of them has had the benefit of employment in any International Organisation like UN, IMF, World Bank, etc, for a period of not less than 5 years before their death or permanent incapacitation.
C. Employees in Public Sector Undertakings, etc.	The criteria enumerated in A and B above in this category will apply mutatis mutandis to officers holding equivalent or comparable posts in PSUs, Banks, Insurance Organisations, Universities, etc., and also to equivalent or comparable posts and positions under private employment, pending the evaluation of the posts on equivalent or comparable basis in these institutions, the criteria specified in Category VI below will apply to the officers in these Institutions.
III. Armed forces including Paramilitary Forces (Persons holding civil posts are not included).	Son(s) and daughter(s) of parents either or both of whom is or are in the rank of Colonel and above in the Army and to equivalent posts in the Navy and the Air Force and the Paramilitary Forces; Provided that (i) If the wife of an armed forces officer is herself in the armed forces (i.e., the category under consideration) the rule of exclusion will apply only when she herself has reached the rank of Colonel; (ii) the service ranks below Colonel of husband and wife shall not be clubbed together; (iii) if the wife of an officer in the armed forces is in civil employment, this will not be taken into account for applying the rule of exclusion unless she falls in the service category under item No. II in which case the criteria and conditions enumerated therein will apply to her independently.
IV. Professional class and those engaged in Trade and Industry (i) Persons engaged in profession as a doctor,lawyer, chartered accountant, income tax consultant, financial or management consultant, dental surgeon, engineer, architect, computer specialist, film artists and other film professional, author, playwright, sports person, sports professional, media professional or any other vocations of like status.	Criteria specified against Category VI will apply
(ii) Persons engaged in trade, business and industry.	Criteria specified against Category VI will apply. EXPLANATION (i) Where the husband is in some profession and the wife is in a Class II or lower grade employment, the income/wealth test will apply only on the basis of the husbands income. (ii) If the wife is in any profession and the husband is in employment in a Class II or lower rank post, then the income/wealth criterion will apply only on the basis of the wifes income and the husbands income will not be clubbed with it.
V. Property Owners A. Agricultural holding.	Son(s) and daughter(s) of persons belonging to a family (father, mother and minor children) which owns- (a) only irrigated land which is equal to or more than 85% of the statutory ceiling area, or (b) both irrigated and unirrigated land, as follows:- (i) The rule of exclusion will apply where the pre-condition exists that the irrigated area (having been brought to a single type under a common denominator) 40% or more of the statutory ceiling limit for irrigated land (this being calculated by excluding the unirrigated portion). If this pre-condition of not less than 40% exists, then only the area of unirrigated land will be taken into account. This will be done by converting, the unirrigated land on the basis of the conversion formula existing, into the irrigated type. The irrigated area so computed from unirrigated land shall be added to the actual area of irrigated land and if after such clubbing together the total area in terms of irrigated land is 85% or more of the statutory ceiling limit for irrigated land, then the rule of exclusion will apply and disentitlement will occur.) (ii) The rule of exclusion will not apply if the land holding of a family is exclusively unirrigated.
B. Plantations (i) Coffee, tea, rubber, etc. (ii) Mango, citrus, apple plantations, etc.	Criteria of income/wealth specified in Category VI below will apply. Deemed as agricultural holding and hence criteria at A above under this category will apply. Criteria specified in Category VI below will apply.
C. Vacant land and/or buildings in urban Agglomerations.	EXPLANATION:- Building may be used for residential, industrial or commercial purpose and the like two or more such purposes.
VI. Income/Wealth Test	Son(s) daughter(s) (a) Persons having gross annual income of Rs. 2.5 lakh or above or possessing wealth above the exemption limit as prescribed in the Wealth Act for a period of three consecutive years. (b) Persons in Categories I, II, III and V-A who are not disentitled to the benefit of reservation but have income from other sources of wealth which will bring them within the income/wealth criteria mentioned in (a) above. EXPLANATION:- (i) Income from salaries or agricultural land shall not be clubbed; (ii) The income criteria in terms of rupee will be modified taking into account the change in its value every three years. If the situation, however, so demands, the interregnum may be less. EXPLANATIONWherever the expression permanent incapacitation occur in this schedule, it shall mean incapacitation which results in putting an officer out of service.