Economically Weaker Section(EWS) – Eligibility, Documents Required.

Reservations in India are enshrined under the Constitution of India. Article 15, 16, 46 highlights the principle of reservation in favor of Schedule Tribe(ST), Schedule caste(SC) and Other Backward Classes(OBCs). The objective behind this provision was for a noble cause of uplifting the weaker sections of the society and eradicating caste-ism to cope up with the growing pace of the economy of the country. There has been a recent development of additional category Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for a 10% reservation.

What are the eligibility criteria for EWS?

People who are not covered under the purview of the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs and whose family has a gross annual income below Rs 8 lacs are to be identified and called as EWSs to avail the benefits of the reservation. (Herein, Income shall include all sources i.e. salary, agriculture, business, profession, etc. for the financial year before to the year of application).

Moreover, people whose families own any of the following assets shall be excluded from being called as EWS, irrespective of the family income:

• 1.5 acres of agricultural land and above;
• A Residential area of 1000 sq ft. and above;
• A Residential plot of 100 sq. yards and above in notified municipalities;
• A Residential, plot of 200 sq. yards and above which are in areas other than the notified municipalities.
• To determine the EWS status, the property held by a “Family” in different locations or different places/cities would be clubbed while applying the land or property holding test.

To determine the EWS status, the property held by a “Family” in different locations or different places/cities would be clubbed while applying the land or property holding test.

The term “Family” implies that the person who intends to seeks the benefit of reservation, his/her parents and siblings below the age of 18 years as also his/her spouse and children below the age of 18 years.

What are the documents required to avail benefits of EWS?

Income and Asset Certificate issued by a Competent Authority is the proof of candidate claiming and belonging to the Economically Weaker Section.

The documents required to issue the Income and Asset Certificate are:

• Application Form
• Ration Card/EPIC Card/Aadhaar Card
• Copy of IT Returns/Pay Slip
• PAN card
• Affidavit/Self- declaration
• Passport-sized Photo

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