EWS Full Form

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the society is that part of the society that belongs to the unreserved category and is known to have an annual income of less than 8 lakhs rupees. The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) doesn’t include caste categories of SC/ST/OBC. Therefore, the Government of India has provided a 10% reservation for those individuals who are not a part of caste categories such as SC/ST/OBC but belong to the unreserved category.

In 2019, the Union Council of India approved a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) of the general category. 

 Economically Weaker Section 

The Union Council of Ministers approved a bill that provides 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the general category on 7 January 2019. The cabinet’s decision included that this would be over and above the already existing 50% reservation for caste categories, namely SC/ST/OBC

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed the bill on 8 January 2019 and 9 January 2019. 

On 14 January 2019, the bill came into execution. The amendment was done under articles 15(6) and 16(6) in the Constitution of India to allow the 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Along with this, many state cabinets also approved the law and made announcements regarding their intentions to pursue the 10% reservation law in their respective States. 

Eligibility Criteria For EWS 

In case you’re aspiring for a government job or an educational institute, then the following would be the eligibility criteria to have the benefit of 10% reservation in the general category: 

1. You should belong to the general category. This means you won’t be eligible for the Economically Weaker Section if you fall under the caste category of SC/ST/OBC. 
2. Your annual family income must be less than 8 lakh rupees. An annual family income of over 8 lakh rupees won’t get counted for the Economically Weaker Section. 
3. If your family owns the land, it should be less than 5 acres. 
4. If you or your family owns a flat, the area of the flat shouldn’t be over 1000 Square feet. 

Eligibility Criteria For EWS Across Distinctive States 

The eligibility criteria for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) are similar in the entire country, but its implementation varies in States. States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala, have adopted the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota. 

Kerala 

The eligibility criteria for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in Kerala are mentioned below:

1. The annual family income of the candidate must be less than 8 lakh rupees. 
2. The candidate’s family should not hold house plots measuring an area of over 20 cents in the municipality area or 15 cents in the Municipal Corporation area. 
3. The candidate’s family must not have over 2.5 acres of land in the Panchayat area, 75 cents in the Municipal area, or 50 cents in the Municipal Corporation area. 

Significance 

1. The 10% reservation quota can resolve the issues of education and income inequality within India. Since so many people couldn’t attend higher educational institutions due to a lack of financial resources. 
2. The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota gives Constitutional recognition to the poor not belonging to SC/ST/OBC. 

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota proves beneficial in eradicating the stigma associated with the caste reservation of SC/ST/OBC.

Conclusion 

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) is known as that section of the society that belongs to the unreserved category and has an annual family income of less than 8 lakhs rupees. The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) doesn’t belong to the caste category such as SC/ST/OBC. The Economically WeakerSection (EWS) quota came into existence on 14 January 2019. The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) took place under articles 15(6) and 16(6) in the Constitution of India. Under this quota, individuals who belong to the general category with an annual income of less than 8 lakh rupees get a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. To be eligible for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), the following conditions must be fulfilled: 

1. An individual must belong to a general category.
2. The family income of the individual shouldn’t be over 8 lakh rupees
3. If the individual’s family possesses a flat, the flat area shouldn’t be more than 5 acres. 
4. If the individual’s family holds land, the area of land should be less than 1000 Square feet. 

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota is similar in the entire country, but some States have a distinctive implementation. States namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala have adopted the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.