New Delhi: On 22nd April, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) announced the results, selecting 1,009 candidates for the country’s most prestigious service. Many successful candidates celebrated their achievements, including Poorva Choudhary, whose stunning performance was joyously shared by friends and family. However, some of her viral photos and reels unexpectedly sparked controversy, with social media users accusing her of misusing the OBC reservation quota.
Poorva Choudhary cleared the UPSC CSE 2024 exam with an All India Rank of 533 under the OBC category. She scored a total of 936 marks, including 165 marks in the interview and 771 marks in the mains written exam.
But now, Ms Choudhary has found herself at the center of a heated controversy after claims surfaced online accusing her of misusing the OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer) reservation quota.
The controversy was sparked by a viral Instagram reel shared by her sister, celebrating Poorva’s success with the caption: “Cleared UPSC while serving this face card.” While the video initially drew admiration, scrutiny quickly followed when observant users noticed the designation “OBC” listed against her name in the official results.
About Ms Choudhary
Ms Choudhary hails from Bolanwali village in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan. Poorva completed her schooling at St. Xavier’s School and is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. Her father, Omprakash Saharan, is a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer and is currently serving as the Additional District Collector in Kotputli.
Accusations: Lavish Lifestyle and Quota Misuse
Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), were soon flooded with posts suggesting that Choudhary – whose lifestyle appeared “privileged” in past social media uploads – did not deserve the benefits of the OBC-NCL quota. Accusers pointed to high-end fashion items, international travel, and her father’s government position as reasons she should have been classified as part of the “creamy layer,” and thus ineligible for reservation benefits.
One widely circulated post read – “Poorva Choudhary, a recent UPSC qualifier, owns a bag worth ₹4 lakhs and leads a premium lifestyle. Her father is an ADM. Still, she used the OBC-NCL certificate to qualify the exam. Another day, another scam in UPSC.”
Another post questioned the justice of the reservation system – “Is the reservation system meant for the socially backward, or has it become a ladder for the ‘privileged’ backward?”
Father’s Defense: “We Followed the Law”
In response to the viral allegations, Omprakash Saharan, Choudhary’s father, broke his silence in an interview with India Today. He refuted all claims of wrongdoing and clarified his daughter’s legal eligibility for the OBC-NCL quota.
“The claim that my daughter misused the certificate is completely untrue,” Saharan said. “I was promoted to RAS at the age of 44. According to government rules, if a parent joins Group A services after the age of 40, their children are still eligible for OBC-NCL benefits.”
This clarification hinges on DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) guidelines, which state that children of Group A officers are ineligible for OBC-NCL status only if the parent was inducted into Group A before the age of 40 and the family income exceeds ₹8 lakh per annum, excluding agricultural income.
From Viral Fame to Digital Exile
The backlash had immediate personal consequences. Within days of the viral reel and the backlash that followed, Poorva Choudhary deactivated or disabled her Instagram account. What began as a moment of celebration turned into a deeply personal trial, unfolding publicly across social platforms.
“There’s a lobby that thrives on this,” Saharan remarked, hinting that Delhi-based social media groups may have deliberately targeted his daughter. “People don’t understand the rules but are quick to judge. It’s all herd mentality.”
The Broader Debate: Optics vs Legal Entitlement
The Poorva Choudhary episode has reignited debates over reservation policies, privilege, and the role of social media in public trials. Critics argue that a visibly well-off lifestyle should disqualify candidates from availing reservation. However, legal experts and civil service veterans caution against equating perception with eligibility.
“The OBC-NCL quota is based on legal and economic benchmarks – not Instagram aesthetics,” one former UPSC official commented. “Many families who qualify legally can still afford a comfortable lifestyle, especially if agricultural income is significant and excluded from the income cap.”
Poorva’s maternal home is in Bhadra, and she hails from Bolawali village in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan. She is also related to local MLA Sanjeev Beniwal, a fact that has further added to the perception-driven backlash, though no rule or law has been broken in relation to her candidature.
Echoes of Past UPSC Controversies
This is not the first time a successful UPSC candidate has been mired in allegations related to reservation misuse. In 2023, IAS probationer Pooja Khedkar (AIR 841) was dismissed from service after being accused of using fake disability and OBC certificates, with her father’s affidavit revealing income well above the eligible limit. However, unlike Khedkar, no official inquiry or irregularity has been cited in Choudhary’s case so far.
Law vs Mob Judgment
As India grapples with questions around social justice, representation, and digital accountability, the case of Poorva Choudhary underlines a growing trend: celebratory moments can quickly be derailed by viral outrage, especially when legality collides with public perception.
Whether or not the storm around Choudhary subsides, one thing is clear: in the era of social media, even a hard-earned achievement like clearing the UPSC exam can become a lightning rod overnight.
I have been fighting in Supreme Court against exactly this kind of discrimination. Year after year, DoPT turns a blind eye, while individuals like Puja Khedkar & such exploit the system &make a mockery of the law. https://t.co/9hH0HJTtnI
— Ketan (@Ketanomy) April 28, 2025
Poorva Choudhary a recent UPSC qualifier having a bag worth Rs 4 lakhs along with a premium lifestyle which includes international trips.
— Tirhut Index (@TirhutDivision) May 1, 2025
Her father is an ADM.
Still she used OBC-NCL certificate to qualify the exam.
Another day another scam in UPSC@DoPTGoI @UPSC_Official pic.twitter.com/GHsx6z2X1C
