Committee formed for CREAMY LAYER

Which committee, formed in 1971 by the DMK government, recommended the introduction of the “Creamy Layer” concept and reservation changes for Backward Classes?

(A) Mandal Committee
(B) Sattanathan Committee
(C) Kalelkar Commission
(D) Kaka Kalelkar Committee

EXPLANATION

  • In 1971, the DMK government under Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi constituted a committee headed by A. N. Sattanathan, a retired IAS officer and the first Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).

  • This committee was officially known as the Sattanathan Commission (1971) or Sattanathan Committee on Backward Classes.

Objectives of the Sattanathan Committee:

  • To review the existing reservation policy in Tamil Nadu.

  • To ensure equitable distribution of benefits among the Backward Classes.

  • To evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the reservation system.

Key Recommendations:

  1. Introduction of the “Creamy Layer” Concept:

    • The Committee observed that within the Backward Classes (BCs), a small, better-off section was taking most of the reservation benefits.

    • It recommended excluding the advanced sections (Creamy Layer) among the BCs from reservation benefits so that the truly backward could benefit.

  2. Reservation Percentage Adjustments:

    • Suggested 16% reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 1% for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

    • Recommended 31% reservation for Backward Classes, making the total reservation 48%.

  3. Creation of a Separate Category for the Most Backward Classes (MBCs):

    • Recommended identifying “Most Backward Classes” within the BC list and giving them a separate quota to ensure fair representation.

  4. Periodic Review:

    • Suggested that the list of backward classes should be revised every 10 years to reflect changing socio-economic conditions.

Impact:

  • The Sattanathan Committee’s recommendations laid the foundation for the Creamy Layer principle later adopted nationally by the Mandal Commission (1980).

  • In Tamil Nadu, its recommendations influenced later reservation policy refinements, including the creation of a Most Backward Classes (MBC) category.

✅ Final Answer:

(B) Sattanathan Committee

Committee formed for CREAMY LAYER