https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Controversy Over OBC Quota: UPSC AIR 533 Poorva Choudhary Faces Social Media Backlash, RAS Officer Father Clarifies Eligibility

Poorva Choudhary cleared the UPSC CSE 2024 exam with an All India Rank of 533 under the OBC category.
Indian Masterminds Stories

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.

Poorva Choudhary, AIR 533, UPSC CSE – 2024

About Ms Choudhary

Ms Choudhary hails from Bolanwali village in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan. She 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.

Poorva Choudhary

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.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Govt Slams Undervaluation of Oil PSUs Despite ₹2.5 Lakh Cr Profit, Rules Out BPCL Sale: Hardeep Singh Puri
BEML Limited
BEML Strengthens Defence Portfolio with Tripartite Pact for AMCA Program Amid Stock Market Dip
RITES ..
RITES Secures $18 Million Locomotives Order from Talis Logistics, South Africa
Bank_of_Baroda_signs_MoU_
Bank of Baroda Partners with Tata Power Renewable Energy to Finance Solar Projects for MSMEs and C&I Customers
IAF
MoU Signed Between IAF and IIT Ropar for Development of Indigenous Weapon System Solutions
REC Corporate Communicator
REC’s Irfan Rashid Wins Chanakya Jury Special Award for Promising Corporate Communicator of the Year
Central_Coalfield_Limited_logo
Western Coalfields’ Anup Hanjura Recommended as Next Director (Technical) of Central Coalfields Limited
BSNL
BSNL to Activate 4G Network at 6,659 Sites Across Uttar Pradesh; PM Modi to Unveil ‘Swadeshi’ 4G Stack
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Abhay Daga IPS UPSC Success Story
IIT Graduate, Microsoft Alum, Actor, to Cracking UPSC CSE: The Story of Abhay Daga
Read the inspiring journey of Abhay Daga, an IIT graduate, Microsoft alum, and actor, who cleared UPSC...
Rishav Awasthi MPPSC Risabh Awasthi MPPCS
Family’s Dream, His Determination: How Small-Town Dreamer Rishav Awasthi Conquered MPPSC 2024 with Rank 2 | Exclusive
After two failed attempts, Rishav Awasthi secured Rank 2 in MPPSC 2024, driven by family support, self-study,...
Harshita Dave MPPSC 2024
The Girl Who Turned Dreams Into a Deputy Collector Post at 22: Meet MPPSC 2024 Women Topper Harshita Dave
At just 22, Harshita Dave topped MPPSC 2024, becoming the women topper and securing Rank 5. Her journey...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Govt Slams Undervaluation of Oil PSUs Despite ₹2.5 Lakh Cr Profit, Rules Out BPCL Sale: Hardeep Singh Puri
BEML Limited
BEML Strengthens Defence Portfolio with Tripartite Pact for AMCA Program Amid Stock Market Dip
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT