Economic prosperity and upward political movement of members in the castes brought under Category 1 has led the Socio Economic and Education Survey report to recommend removal of exemption from the creamy layer category. The K. Jayaprakash Hegde-led Commission that submitted the report to the government in 2024 has said that since the economic condition had improved among people in these castes, the creamy layer is sought to be included now. It also notes that some have become ‘crorepathis’ through their business and some have come to be identified in the field of politics. The report also notes that the competition between and within communities has increased, and that it becomes difficult for persons from villages, children of labourers and farmers to compete with the rich in these categories. Beyond 50% Justifying the increase in the reservation matrix beyond the Supreme Court capped 50%, the report pointed out that the reservation had already reached 56% with the increase in reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to 24.1% along with the 10% reservation provided for …