In a landmark decision, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled in favour of candidates from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), allowing them additional benefits while appearing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025. The court has granted EWS candidates a five-year age relaxation and increased their number of attempts to nine, bringing them on the same level as other reserved categories.
This ruling ensures that EWS candidates will now receive the same advantages as OBC, SC/ST, and disabled candidates, bridging the gap that previously existed. Until now, EWS candidates were treated like general category aspirants, with no extra attempts or extended age limits.
Under the new guidelines, EWS candidates can now apply for the UPSC CSE until the age of 37, compared to the earlier limit of 32. They will also get nine attempts instead of the previous six. This decision follows a petition by Aditya Narayan Pandey from Maihar, who argued that despite being classified under the reserved section, EWS candidates were not receiving the same benefits as other reserved groups.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain passed the ruling and directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to accept applications from EWS candidates as per the revised criteria. The court has also instructed the UPSC not to issue appointment orders without prior approval.
The court has sought a response from UPSC regarding the extension of the application deadline, with a further hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, eligible EWS candidates can now submit their applications based on the updated rules.
The UPSC CSE 2025 will offer 979 vacancies, with the preliminary examination set for 25 May 2025. This decision marks a significant step towards creating a fair and inclusive selection process, ensuring that economic constraints do not limit opportunities for deserving candidates.
