New Delhi: An investigation into candidates selected under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 has triggered fresh debate over whether the reservation policy is effectively reaching India’s economically disadvantaged sections or whether loopholes in the verification process are enabling relatively better-off candidates to avail of the benefits.
The investigation, carried out by The Indian Express, examined the backgrounds of all 104 candidates selected under the EWS category from the total 958 candidates who qualified in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.
While the report identified several candidates from genuinely poor and vulnerable backgrounds, it also found that a significant number of successful candidates had access to costly coaching institutes, private schools and socio-economic advantages that have prompted renewed scrutiny of the EWS certification system.
What Is the EWS Quota?
The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation was introduced through the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019.
The provision grants 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to economically disadvantaged candidates belonging to the general category who are not covered under reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Under existing Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines, a family qualifies for EWS status if its gross annual income is below ₹8 lakh from all sources, including:
- Salary
- Agriculture
- Business income
- Professional income
However, certain asset ownership criteria automatically disqualify applicants irrespective of income.
A family cannot claim EWS status if it owns:
- Five acres or more of agricultural land
- A residential flat of 1,000 square feet or more
- A residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities
- A residential plot of 200 square yards or more in non-notified areas
Eligibility is certified through an Income and Asset Certificate issued by designated authorities.
Read also: MPPSC Reschedules State Service Mains 2025 to Avoid UPSC Clash; Exams Now from August 8 to 13
Coaching Advantage Raises Questions
One of the key findings of the investigation concerns the widespread use of expensive coaching services among successful EWS candidates.
According to the report:
- At least 84 of the 104 selected EWS candidates underwent formal UPSC coaching.
- Among them, 67 attended reputed coaching institutes in Delhi and other major cities.
- Annual coaching fees at several of these institutes often run into lakhs of rupees.
The candidates reportedly attended prominent institutes such as:
- Vajiram & Ravi
- Vajirao & Reddy
- Drishti IAS
- ForumIAS
- NextIAS
- KingMakers IAS
- UPSC Wallah
Although some coaching institutes provide scholarships and fee concessions, such benefits remain limited and highly competitive.
The findings have raised questions about how candidates from economically weaker families are managing the substantial expenses associated with UPSC preparation.
Private School Education Common Among Many Selected Candidates
The investigation also found that a considerable number of EWS candidates had studied in private educational institutions.
According to the report:
- At least 46 selected candidates attended private schools.
- These schools were primarily located in the National Capital Region (NCR), Lucknow, Jaipur, Raipur and other state capitals.
- Annual school fees ranged from approximately ₹45,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
Critics argue that access to such educational infrastructure may indicate socio-economic advantages beyond what the EWS framework intends to support.
Business Backgrounds and Corporate Experience
The report further highlighted that several selected candidates came from entrepreneurial or relatively stable financial backgrounds.
Among the findings:
- Parents of at least 28 candidates reportedly owned businesses.
- These businesses operated in sectors such as retail trade, steel fabrication, clothing and confectionery.
In addition:
- At least 10 candidates had prior work experience in the private sector.
- Several had worked in multinational corporations, software firms and construction companies before beginning UPSC preparation.
While such backgrounds do not automatically disqualify candidates from EWS status under existing rules, they have added to the debate on whether income alone is sufficient to assess economic disadvantage.
IIT, NIT and Premier University Graduates Among EWS Candidates
Educational data from the investigation indicates a strong presence of graduates from some of India’s most prestigious institutions.
The report found:
- At least 14 candidates were graduates or postgraduates from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- At least three candidates came from National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
- Twenty-seven candidates were alumni of Delhi University.
- Three candidates graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
The findings have prompted discussions about whether access to elite educational institutions reflects opportunities that may not align with public perceptions of economic vulnerability.
Candidates Who Reflect the Original Spirit of EWS
The investigation also identified several candidates whose backgrounds closely matched the intended objective of the EWS reservation policy.
Among them were:
- The son of a retired Army personnel currently working as a security guard.
- The son of a school bus conductor.
- The daughter of a former railway porter.
- Children of daily-wage labourers.
- Candidates with unemployed parents.
- Aspirants from small farming families.
These examples highlight that the EWS category continues to benefit many genuinely disadvantaged candidates.
Strong Representation From Rural India
The report noted a significant presence of candidates from rural and agrarian backgrounds.
Key findings include:
- At least seven candidates studied in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
- Many successful candidates were Hindi-medium students.
- Several came from remote rural areas.
Additionally:
- Twenty-nine selected candidates belonged to farming families.
- These candidates came from states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
For many such candidates, the EWS quota has emerged as a crucial pathway to accessing opportunities in the civil services.
Verification Process Comes Under Scrutiny
The findings have revived concerns about the adequacy of the current EWS certification and verification mechanism.
Questions are being raised about whether the present system relies too heavily on self-declarations and income certificates while failing to adequately assess a family’s actual financial capacity and socio-economic standing.
Observers argue that wealth, lifestyle, educational access and undeclared assets may not always be accurately reflected through income documentation alone.
Former DoPT Secretary Calls for Stronger Due Diligence
Former Chief Information Commissioner and former Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Secretary Satyananda Mishra has called for stricter verification of EWS claims.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Mishra emphasized that authorities should conduct detailed scrutiny beyond self-declarations and income tax records.
“EWS relies on income and asset criteria. Issuing authorities must exercise rigorous due diligence, going beyond self-declarations and Income Tax returns, when verifying claims. If well-to-do individuals corner this benefit, the entire purpose of EWS reservation will be defeated,” he said.
Larger Debate on EWS Reservation Continues
The findings are likely to intensify ongoing discussions surrounding the implementation of EWS reservation in India.
Supporters of stricter scrutiny argue that stronger verification mechanisms are necessary to ensure benefits reach genuinely deserving families. Others maintain that eligibility must continue to be determined strictly according to the legal criteria laid down by the government rather than assumptions based on educational or professional backgrounds.
As debates continue, the UPSC EWS selection data has once again highlighted the complex challenge of defining and measuring economic disadvantage in a rapidly changing society.
Read also: UPSC CSE Mains 2026: DAF Window Opens for 13,343 Qualified Candidates; Apply by June 28
