Recently, the Center has clarified to the Supreme Court that the income limit of Rs 8 lakh is appropriate for EWS quota.
- The Central Government has informed the Supreme Court in an affidavit that it has decided to accept the recommendations made by an expert committee.
- The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition challenging the Centre’s decision to implement reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)/Other Backward Classes in All India quota for NEET.
- The Supreme Court had earlier expressed doubts on the reasonableness of the income criterion of Rs. 8 lakh for EWS. Thereafter, the Center agreed to reconsider it after constituting an expert committee.
- The Center has also put on hold the NEET-PG counseling process as the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.
- EWS reservation was implemented in the year 2019 through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. It provides for economic reservation in jobs and education by inserting clause 6 in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution.
Major Recommendations of the Expert Committee
- The current Gross Annual Family Income Limit has been changed to “Rs. 8 lakhs” or less may be prescribed.
- Irrespective of the EWS income limit, a person from a family owning 5 acres (and above) of agricultural land can be denied this reservation.
- The residential property criterion may be removed from its provisions.
Source – The Hindu
