Central List of OBC Castes: How to Check the Official List
How the central list of OBC castes works, how to check your caste on ncbc.nic.in state-wise lists, creamy layer income limit, and the certificate process.
There is no single all-India list of OBC castes. The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) maintains a central list of OBCs separately for each state and union territory, and every state government maintains its own state OBC list, which can differ from the central one. To claim OBC reservation in central government jobs, central universities or all-India recruitment, your caste must appear in the central list for your state — and the only authoritative place to check it is the NCBC website, ncbc.nic.in.
Central OBC List vs State OBC Lists
Two parallel systems exist, and mixing them up is the most common mistake people make:
- The central list of OBCs is maintained state-wise by the NCBC, a constitutional body under Article 338B (created by the 102nd Constitutional Amendment, 2018). It governs the 27% OBC reservation in central government jobs, central public sector undertakings and centrally funded educational institutions.
- State OBC lists are drawn up by each state’s backward classes commission and apply to state government jobs and state institutions. A community can be OBC in a state list but absent from the central list for that state — or vice versa.
The practical consequence: a certificate issued against the state list alone is not valid for a central government vacancy. For central purposes you need an OBC certificate in the central format, confirming that your caste is on the central list for your state and that you do not fall in the creamy layer.
How to Check Whether a Caste Is in the Central OBC List
- Open the NCBC’s central list page: ncbc.nic.in — Central List of OBCs.
- Select your state or union territory. The site displays the full central list for that state as entries with resolution numbers and dates; state-wise PDFs are also available for download.
- Check the exact entry. Many entries carry sub-castes, synonyms and district restrictions — for example, some communities are listed as OBC only in specified districts of a state. The entry text is decisive, not the broad caste name.
- Alternatively, use the caste search service on the National Government Services Portal, which lets you search the central list by caste, community or sub-caste name.
If the caste appears in the central list for your state, you can apply for an OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate; the step-by-step application process is covered in this guide to getting a caste certificate.
Major OBC Communities by State (Illustrative)
The table below gives illustrative examples of well-known communities that appear in the NCBC’s central lists for some large states. It is not an exhaustive list — the central lists run to thousands of entries with sub-castes, synonyms and district-level qualifications. Always confirm the exact entry for your community in the official NCBC state list before applying for a certificate.
| State | Examples of communities in the central OBC list |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Yadav (Ahir), Kurmi, Lodh, Gujjar, Teli |
| Bihar | Yadav, Kurmi, Koeri (Kushwaha), Teli |
| Madhya Pradesh | Yadav, Kurmi, Lodhi, Teli, Gujjar |
| Rajasthan | Jat (except Bharatpur and Dholpur districts), Gujjar, Mali, Kumhar |
| Maharashtra | Kunbi, Mali, Teli, Dhangar, Vanjari |
| Gujarat | Ahir, Rabari, Mali, Koli (specified sub-groups) |
| Tamil Nadu | Vanniakula Kshatriya (Vanniyar), Nadar, Kongu Vellalar, Yadava (Idaiyar) |
| Karnataka | Kuruba, Ediga (Idiga), Devanga, Vokkaliga |
Entries change over time — communities are added or modified through government resolutions — so the NCBC state-wise lists are the only source to rely on for a current, complete list.
The Creamy Layer Rule
Being on the central OBC list is only half the eligibility test. Reservation benefits go to OBC candidates outside the creamy layer — the better-off section of backward classes excluded from reservation following the Supreme Court’s Indra Sawhney judgment (1992).
- Income limit: The creamy layer threshold is a gross parental income of ₹8 lakh per annum for three consecutive financial years. It was last revised from ₹6 lakh to ₹8 lakh by a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order dated 13 September 2017. Proposals to raise it to ₹12 lakh have been discussed, but as of July 2026 no revision has been notified — the operative limit remains ₹8 lakh.
- What counts as income: Under DoPT clarifications, income from the parents’ salaries and from agricultural land is not clubbed for the income test; other income sources of the parents are. The candidate’s own income is not counted.
- Service-based exclusion: Independently of income, children of certain categories — such as Group A (Class I) officers, and Group B officers in specified situations, in government service, along with holders of constitutional posts — fall in the creamy layer.
If you clear both tests, you are “non-creamy layer” and eligible for the 27% central OBC quota. The detailed rules, documents and validity questions are explained in this guide to the OBC non-creamy layer certificate.
How the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Certificate Is Issued
- Confirm your caste entry in the NCBC central list for your state, as described above.
- Apply to the local revenue authority — typically the Tehsildar, SDM or district magistrate’s office — either at the counter or through your state’s e-district portal or a Common Service Centre.
- Submit proof: identity and residence documents, an existing caste certificate of a parent or family member if available, and parental income declarations or income certificates for the last three financial years.
- Ask for the central-format certificate (the OBC-NCL format prescribed by the Government of India) if you need it for central jobs or admissions — a state-format certificate may not be accepted.
- Mind the validity: since the creamy layer test is income-based and income changes, institutions generally require a certificate issued in the relevant financial year, so most applicants renew it annually.
Understanding why these lists differ from state to state also helps: caste categories are politically negotiated and periodically revised, a dynamic explored in this analysis of caste, religion and ethnicity in Indian politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I check the official central list of OBC castes?
On the NCBC website: ncbc.nic.in → Central List of OBCs, where you select your state to view or download the full state-wise list. You can also search by caste name on the National Government Services Portal.
Is there one OBC list for the whole of India?
No. The central list is maintained separately for each state and union territory, and each state additionally has its own state OBC list. A caste’s status can differ between the two, and between states.
What is the current creamy layer income limit for OBC?
₹8 lakh gross parental income per annum, for three consecutive financial years. This limit has been in force since the DoPT order of 13 September 2017; as of July 2026, no upward revision has been notified.
My caste is in the state OBC list but not the central list. Can I get central OBC reservation?
No. Central OBC reservation (in central jobs and centrally funded institutions) requires the caste to be in the central list for your state. You would still be eligible for state-level OBC benefits where the state list applies.
Who issues the OBC non-creamy layer certificate?
Revenue authorities of your state — usually the Tehsildar, SDM or DM’s office — issue it, including in the central format needed for Government of India purposes. Applications generally go through state e-district portals or Common Service Centres.
Does agricultural income count towards the ₹8 lakh creamy layer limit?
No. Under DoPT clarifications, income from agricultural land and from the parents’ salaries is excluded when computing the income for the creamy layer test; other parental income counts.
How many castes are in the central OBC list?
Several thousand entries across all states and union territories, and the number changes as the government notifies additions and amendments. That is why the live NCBC list, not any static compilation, should be treated as authoritative.
Practice Questions
1. Which body maintains the state-wise central list of OBCs?
a) National Commission for Scheduled Castes
b) National Commission for Backward Classes
c) Union Public Service Commission
d) Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer: b) National Commission for Backward Classes
2. The NCBC was given constitutional status by which amendment?
a) 93rd Constitutional Amendment
b) 99th Constitutional Amendment
c) 102nd Constitutional Amendment
d) 105th Constitutional Amendment
Answer: c) 102nd Constitutional Amendment
3. What is the current creamy layer income ceiling for OBC reservation in central government jobs?
a) ₹6 lakh per annum
b) ₹8 lakh per annum
c) ₹10 lakh per annum
d) ₹12 lakh per annum
Answer: b) ₹8 lakh per annum
4. The concept of excluding the creamy layer from OBC reservation arose from which Supreme Court case?
a) Kesavananda Bharati case
b) M. Nagaraj case
c) Indra Sawhney case
d) Maneka Gandhi case
Answer: c) Indra Sawhney case
5. What percentage of reservation is provided to OBCs in central government jobs?
a) 15%
b) 22.5%
c) 27%
d) 33%
Answer: c) 27%