BharatNotes EWS (Economically Weaker Section) certificates require a family income below ₹8 lakh per annum and are issued by District Magistrate, SDM, Tehsildar, or equivalent revenue officers. The certificate is valid for one financial year and must be in the UPSC-prescribed format. EWS benefits are separate from OBC-NCL.
EWS Certificate for UPSC CSE
What Is EWS?
EWS reservation (10% of vacancies) was introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019 for General category candidates who are economically weaker. EWS and OBC are mutually exclusive — you cannot claim both simultaneously.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Limit |
|---|---|
| Family gross annual income | Below ₹8,00,000 per annum |
| Residential plot (urban) | Less than 100 sq. yards |
| Residential flat | Less than 1,000 sq. feet |
| Agricultural land | Less than 5 acres |
Income includes income from all sources — salary, agriculture, business, profession — for the financial year prior to applying.
Issuing Authority
Only the following authorities can issue EWS certificates accepted by UPSC:
- District Magistrate / Additional DM / Collector / Deputy Commissioner
- 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate / Sub-Divisional Magistrate / Taluka Magistrate
- Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar
Certificates issued by any other authority are not accepted by UPSC.
Validity
The EWS certificate is valid for one financial year (1 April to 31 March) and must be renewed annually.
Format
The certificate must be in the Income and Asset Certificate format prescribed in the UPSC notification (Annexure to the EWS reservation OM dated 31.1.2019).
