Date : 03 Jan 2022
EWS Income Criteria
Tags :Why in News?
A government committee report in the Supreme Court has said that the annual family income of Rs. 8 lakh is a “reasonable” threshold to determine EWS in order to extend reservation in admissions and jobs.
- The committee did not agree with the notion that the Centre had “mechanically adopted” Rs. 8 lakh as a number because it was also used for the OBC creamy layer cut-off.
- It said the income criterion for EWS was “more stringent” than the one for the OBC creamy layer.
More about the Criteria
- EWS’s criteria relates to the financial year prior to the year of application whereas the income criterion for the creamy layer in OBC category is applicable to gross annual income for three consecutive years.
- In case of OBC creamy layer, income from salaries, agriculture and traditional artisanal professions are excluded from the consideration whereas the Rs. 8 lakh criteria for EWS includes all sources, including farming.
About EWS
- EWS certificate is issued to the persons belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category of the society.
- It is being implemented in respect of recruitment for civil posts and services in government and admission in educational institutions.
- EWS certificate is just like an income certificate and should not be confused with the caste certificate.
- The persons belonging to EWSs who, are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs shall get 10% reservation in direct recruitment in civil posts and services in the Government and admission in educational institutions.
Exclusions:
- Also persons whose family owns or possesses any of the following assets shall be excluded from being identified as EWS, irrespective of the family income:
- 1.5 acres of agricultural land and above;
- Residential area of 1000 sq ft. and above;
- Residential plot of 100 sq. yards and above in notified municipalities;
- Residential, plot of 200 sq. yards and above in areas other than the notified municipalities.
- 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 EWS status.
Source: The Hindu, Vikaspedia