The Central Government of India recently introduced EWS Reservation. 10% quota is provided for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among General Category candidates in government jobs and educational institutions. This is done by adding clauses for the same in the Indian Constitution (103rd Constitution Amendment Act, 2019).
Are you thinking that the 10% Reservation for EWS won’t affect you?
You are probably wrong.
Irrespective of your category – General, OBC, SC, or ST – the new quota act (unless struck down by the Supreme Court of India), will change the seats-share accessible to you.
The total number of seats you can target = Reservation Quota + Merit Quota
Yes, that’s how reservation + merit works in India!
The government had said that the reservation of EWS of general category will be given without tampering the existing reservation quotas for SC, ST and OBCs people.
Well, that’s only half of the story.
Even if your reservation quota is untouched, the merit quota can shrink!
Obviously, it will. This is because the new reservation for EWS is carved out from the existing merit quota.
In how many seats can you compete once EWS Reservation Quota is introduced?
If you belong to general merit, you can compete only in 40.50% seats as 59.50 seats are reserved.
If you are an ST, you can compete in 48% seats (7.5% reservation quota seats+ 40.5% merit seats).
On the same lines, SC category candidates can compete in 55.5% seats (15% reservation quota seats+ 40.5% merit seats) while OBC category candidates can target 67.5% seats (27 % reservation quota seats+ 40.5% merit seats).
Before and After EWS Reservation Quota Introduction
The above analysis shows that irrespective of your category, the number of seats in which each category can compete has come down (except General EWS).
If there are 1000 vacancies, General Merit candidates have to be on the top 405 ranks to get a selection (in this case, 595 seats are reserved, which need fewer cutoff marks as well).
If you don’t fall under EWS, you will have 10% fewer jobs or seats!
Anybody who does not fall under EWS criteria (SC, ST, OBC, or General) will now have 10% fewer jobs to target.
For example, OBCs who could earlier target 77.5% seats (27% reserved and 50.5% general merit) will now see their competitive pool coming down to 67.5% (27% reserved and 40.5% general merit).
If you were from SC category, earlier you had access to 65.50% seats, but now it is only 55.50%.
The pool of ST shrank from 58% to 48%.
And most importantly, the merit quota decreased from 50.50% earlier to 40.50%.
What does the EWS Reservation bring? Inclusion or exclusion?
The new changes paint a darker picture of the exclusion aspect.
Now, about 60% of seats are excluded from the general merit category. They can’t compete in these seats – because these seats are reserved for somebody else.
Everybody – except EWS – lost 10% seats. ST’s are excluded from 52% seats, and SCs are excluded from 44.50% seats. OBC too lost 10% seats, however, their position is relatively better – excluded only from 32.50% seats.
Who will gain from EWS reservation (apart from political parties)?
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Economically weaker sections should be uplifted. There is no second question about that. Whether reservation should be used as a tool for the same – for EWS or any other community – is another question. In fact, it’s time to bring reforms to the Reservation System in India. We have already written about that.
Whatever be the case, as the Constitutional Amendment is already made, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) among General category will now get a fixed quota of seats (10%). Into these 10% seats (this will work out only less than100 seats in-case of UPSC Civil Services Exam), other categories – OBC, SC, ST, or General Merit – cannot get into.
Further, if the number of attempts and upper age limit is relaxed for General EWS, more candidates from the General category can now write UPSC Prelims (or other government jobs).
In case of other categories, though their respective reservation quotas are untouched, the effective seats that can be targeted will come down (as seen from the charts above).
How will the EWS quota affect your selection in UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE)?
Cut-offs for General Merit may increase, as there are fewer seats now.
Also, there are chances of more candidates to apply, as there may be relaxations in age limit and number of chances.
What should you do now? All you need to do now is to be a little more serious and approach UPSC CSE strategically.
Don’t waste time. It’s time to start your intense preparation.
The implementation of these changes depends on the review by the Supreme Court, and if the Court declares the new Act as null and void, situation will change to what existed before.
You will get more clarity once the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2019 notification is out. It will be released soon. All the best!
Waseem Pasha M says
Is there any age relaxation for those who are in EWS in general category?
Please answer
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Not yet.
Chandrarao irla says
No
Dhana venkatesh says
Thanks for government of pm modi for introducing ews reservation
Thanks a lot.
Hemant Bhardwaj says
but another fact is that there are socio-economic situations in India that demand reservation.
ANSHU KUMAR jha says
After implementing ews reservation, any changing will be happened the age of general category candidate?
Mallikarjuna says
If age relaxation is there to ews then only it is worthy. Pls tk this to govt
Ragesh says
I feel ..Suppose A B C D castes which includes general category also constitute 26% 24% 30% and 20% of population they can be given half of it I.e 13% 12% 15% and 10% as economic reservation for the poor in those castes and rest 50% left to merit.
Digant says
If i apply for EWS then can i also fight for general merit seats (because if not then cut off of ews may exceed the general merit cut off)??
Plz rply
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, everybody can compete in General Merit Seats – apart from the reservation quota.
Digant says
Can a ews candidate also fight for general merit seats (otherwise its cutofff will exceed the general cut off)???
Chintan patel says
Sir, mere father government employee class 3 he..or uniki salary 9 lakhs ke karib he to kya me isme apply kar Sakta Hu???
Dhiraj Jaiswal says
Sir can a EWS holder get preference if there is no 2 vacancy for the for unreserved (General category)?? please reply..
Siddharth says
Hi,
I have 2 questions.
1. Will there be relaxation in cut-off marks for the EWS reserved candidates?
2. If you are not able to provide the required EWS certificate in the mains examination, then will you be disqualified or be considered in general category(i.e. Non-reserved)?
P.S. The 2nd question is due to the ambiguity in getting the certificates from competent authorities.
Will be of great help if you provide me with answers.
Thank you.
Rahul Sharma says
Is ews candidate only get ews seat,?
I mean a person belongs to ews, can he get general seat as well?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Yes, EWS can get General Merit Seats as well. General Merit Seats are open to all.
Himanshu says
I disagree as according to the supreme court, an increase candidate can’t compete in general category even if he’s scored more marks than a general category candidate, once the seats in OBC are done!!
March 2018 Supreme court decision
DINESH RAJPUT says
Ha
GOPEEKRISHNA D says
I belongs to general category and I applied an application form to prove that I belongs to EWS category. They reject my application by saying that the fourth criteria they mentioned was not against me. It says that RESIDENTIAL PLOT IN OTHER THAN NOTIFIED MUNICIPALITIES NOT BE MORE THAN 200SQUARE YARDS OR 4.12 CENTS. What a ridiculous criteria they prefer, even those who has 5 acres of land and income below 8 lakh per annum and residential flat not above 1000sq.feet in rural areas and residential plot below within 4 cent. This is totally absurd. I m from kerala and here most of the people’s live near their agricultural land and most of the candidates in UR category cannot be able to apply as EWS candidate because of this last criteria. We lost our chance of 10% of seats from UR category and this is totally absurd and not acceptable. This amendment is simply to aquire votes in election.
suprakash banik says
sir i live with my maternal grandparents and i have been staying with them since my childhood and my mother and father are alive but they do not have any contacts with me and i also dont know anything about the paternal branch of my family and also have zero idea about the belongings and property of my father and my maternal grandparents just do not earn much as they are retired and economically i am eligible to apply under ews……
can i apply under ews??????
please reply shortly keeping n mind the above facts
Revenue Officer says
Government will not accept ur excuse that u are not leaving ur parents , this is ur problem u have to mention ur father income and other details otherwise there is only option to make an affitdafit that ur parents are dead this is only option
Cittibabu says
Sir I am sedulde caste sc . recently I made correction in jee mains application form instead of sc I made it ews is there any problem and chengei ng of sc reservation kindly clirify my doubt
ketan says
Age relaxation is possible using EWS certificate ? also how much age relaxation is possible using EWS certificate ?
Niranjan says
My family has 3 lakh annual income. And has exact 5 acre land. Can i apply for ews category?
Buchi Reddy G says
The system of reservations in spite of its noble objectives has created a new category of citizens whom I call”State orphans”.They are the ones without any reservation or other benefits of compensatory discrimination/affirmative action.If the Constitution is applicable to all,and there is equality before law,why should the strong pre-conceived notions and vote-bank politics render a sizable section of Indian population helpless in every sense.Why does the statistical expertise of certain people target those sections as if they have been responsible for all kinds of discrimination in India?Is not 70 years of reverse discrimination sufficient to rethink on the effectiveness of reservations in India?A good beginning has been made through the 103rd Constitution Amendment.Let not the selfishness and parochialism of the beneficiaries of affirmative action come in the way of ensuring substantial equality in India.
Siji says
Pls confirm is wants for kv admission .i try for ews certificate but not get from in my village kuttur thrissur district kerala.are u ensure my daughter ‘s admission for 1std.i already admitted yesterday but today they wants this certificate. Ienjoy last day by getting admission with 60000 annual income.but today i am in sad
Subhashini says
Will ews candidate get advantage in cutoff also.. Just like sc st and obc
Amit says
Yes off course that is why the quota is given. Cutoffs would be a bit low for ews compared to general merit
Milan Patel says
If no any seat available for EWS Category in admission of any college, is possible to takes admission for EWS Category person in general category seats?
Vivek says
Can ews help to reduce College fees
aditya pratap singh says
hamare waha to tahshil me puchhane par bol rahe hai ki es tarah ka koe aadesh nahi aaya hai
PARAS ARORA says
I have a question that EWS Certificate mein according to income reservation milti hai Kya
Eg:-Two persons are EWS Category then 1st person ki income 50000 rs. Hai or 2nd person ki income 250000 rs. hai. Toh first reservation seat kisko milegi,
50000 rs. Wale ko ya 250000 rs. Wale ko
PARAS ARORA says
EWS Category wala person GENERAL Category mein apply kr skta hai kya, ya voh sirf EWS reserved category mein hi apply kr skta hai
PARAS ARORA says
I have a question that EWS Certificate mein according to income reservation milti hai Kya
Eg:- EWS Category mein 2 persons hai 1st person ki income 50000 rs. Hai or 2nd person ki income 250000 rs. hai. Toh phele reservation seat kisko milegi,
50000 rs. Wale ko ya 250000 rs. Wale ko
Santanu kumar Bal says
Sir , my father’s annual income is 45000 and my whole property is 1.8 ACER can i apply for EWS ?
Jyothi says
I want to know whether ews 10% apply for women after 33% reservation
Rumanshi says
Sir , If the students getting higher rank belongs to ews and all the ews seats are filled in a state , then the candidates can get a seat with open general seat ?
vinay singh says
if i have not filled EWS quota in application forms of NEET,BHU and other exams becuse it was not present at the time of filling but now i have EWS certificate so whether i will be eligible for it?
Gourav says
If accidentally Ews cut off high then Gernal catagri, then candidate of ews who reach the gernal catagri cut off they pass or fail
Dibyaranjan mahalik says
Sir if i selected against general category but applied against ews and can not produce ews certificate then i will be rejected or selected plz rply sir
Anil kumar dwivedi says
In ews flat not above 1000sq feet and 100yards residence plot in municipal area.kya dono alg alg hai.mens flat ke alwe 100yards bhi hogi ya nahi.in municipal area.
Shubham vyas says
Sir I have ews certificate but in some exams there are few seats for ews category students then can I fill the form from general category?? …Please reply.
Lakshmi Narayanan R says
Sir when the seats in EWS category is empty , is it possible to obtain seats in General category eventhough the candidate has applied in EWS category in institutions?
Jayan KV says
Sir if the EWS candidates are not present in the interview can a OBC candidate whose income less tha n Rs.8 lakh per annum get the EWS quota of resevation?
angelina says
will sc and st candidates get additional seats after 10% reservation for ews quota ? or is there any decrease in the seats for sc and st categories?
Shrushti says
If candidate belongs to NT D category in state which comes under OBC category of centre …but follow all the criteria to be a EWS candidate can I get the certificate
Aman tyagi says
Sir Meri age 21 years nahi h aur mere pass EWS certificate h Kya mujhe bank PO ki job mil sakti h aur mere pass 11 and 12 mein maths nhi tha economics thi
Sarita shukla says
Dear sir,
Can I apply for net entrance exam because I have got 54.8% in p.g . I belongs to general category but I have ews certificate.. please sir reply
Shesha says
Sir
I am from general category but this time in GPSC i have applied from EWS category now EWS merit has gone high than that of general so can i apply as from general category for the mains?and ews candidates are not eligible for general than what is the meaning of EWS?pls reply
Angel says
1. In net exam if once applied through EWS quote,Is it possible to apply through open merit next time
2.Is ews candidates are eligible for open merit in net exam.
ravindrd says
sir, i have 49.67 % marks in pcb group, can i eligible for medical council of india under
e.w.s. ,also i belongs to open catagory.
please reply…
rohith says
if we have 10 acres of land we are able apply for ews certificate
Pa says
Sir i am from general category
I applied from ews
I want to know tht the suposse if there are 20 seats of general nd 4 seats of ews category thn there are only 4 seats for me or 24 for me ????
TAGORE says
thANK YOU sIR, rEALLY HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE