What is the Income Criteria for EWS Certificate Eligibility?

To apply for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate in India, you must first know the eligibility criteria, especially the income parameters. Currently, the EWS certificate is open for those belonging to the general category with a family income of less than INR 8 lakh annually and conditions regarding ownership of land and immovable properties. Having an EWS certificate entitles you to apply for a 10% reservation both in government positions and admission in central or some state universities, which otherwise gives you a much wider scope. This has been implemented so that economically weaker sections of society could be helped, who otherwise were deprived of getting any benefits of the reservation. Before applying, make sure that the required conditions are met so that the procedure becomes smooth and successful.

Also Read: List of Documents Required for EWS Certificate

Income Criteria for EWS Certificate Eligibility

To become eligible for an EWS certificate, your case is largely based on the family income and overall financial position. According to the new government directives, the following are the primary conditions that you should fulfil:

• Your total annual income of your family must be below INR 8 lakh from all sources of earning, like salary, business, agriculture, or any other.
• A ‘family’ would include you, parents, wife/ husband, children, and unmarried siblings under 18 years.
• The INR 8 lakh benchmark is the criterion used nationwide for becoming entitled to benefit through EWS reservation in education and employment in the government sector.
• This benchmark ensures that economically weaker families receive only the benefit of the EWS category schemes.

​​How to Check Your Eligibility for EWS Certificate?

Here’s a step-by-step process to check the eligibility for your EWS certificate:

• Step 1: Start with your family's overall annual income from all sources. In accordance with government recommendations, you usually must keep it under INR 8 lakh per annum.
• Step 2: Examine the overall farmland controlled by your family. The general rule is that the landholding must not surpass 5 acres of irrigated land.
• Step 3: Check the specifications of the residential house. Only such families with houses measuring above 1000 sq. ft. in cities or plots measuring over 100 sq. yards in notified areas are eligible.
• Step 4: Ensure that you do not come under the SC, ST, or OBC categories because eligibility is limited to the general category.
• Step 5: After getting certified, go to your municipal office within your city or upload income papers, property papers, and land papers online through the official website of your state for verification.

Asset Criteria for EWS Certificate Eligibility

The government now makes use of income and asset limits jointly for EWS certificate eligibility to make assistance more effective and targeted.

Important Points to Remember for EWS Certificate Eligibility

• You must fall under the General category and ought not to be benefiting from any caste-based reservations, such as SC, ST, or OBC benefits.
• The EWS certificate is issued formally by an agency authorised by the state government or the concerned local administration.
• Your family income and financial assets are evaluated based on the last financial year preceding the year of application.
• Eligibility income ceilings can also vary from state to state. Delhi, for example, has just increased the annual income limit to INR 5 lakh for entry under the EWS quota in private schools/colleges under the RTE Act.
• These changes are gradually being made in other states as well to provide affordable, quality education to low and middle-income groups through this reservation system.

By being aware of the current eligibility criteria, you can cross-check if you are eligible for the EWS certificate and go ahead with the application. The EWS certificate gives you benefits such as reserved seats in top colleges and government jobs, providing equal opportunities and social elevation for worthy candidates from the general category.

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