How to Get an EWS Certificate? To get an EWS (Economically Weaker Section) certificate to apply for an entrance exam in India, you must visit your local Revenue Department's official website or district portal.
For those candidates wondering how to get an EWS certificate, the basic criteria is income, landholding, and residential property. In terms of documents, a candidate will need proof of income, residential address, landholding, and family details along with government IDs PAN, Aadhaar, Voter's card
An EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) certificate is a document issued by the government that certifies a person's eligibility for economic benefits under the EWS category. The EWS category was introduced by the Government of India in 2019 to provide 10% reservation in various sectors for individuals who do not belong to any reserved categories such as SC, ST, or OBC.
How to Apply for an EWS Certificate?
Candidates can check the step-by-step process to apply for an EWS certificate. The steps are stated below.
Step 1: Visit the Relevant Authority
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EWS certificates are typically issued by the state government or the district administration. Visit the official website of your state's revenue department or the district collector’s office.
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In some states, you may be able to apply online through the state’s official portal, while in others, you might need to visit the office in person.
Step 2: Fill out the Application Form
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Download the application form from the official portal (if applying online) or obtain a physical copy from the concerned office.
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Fill out the required details, such as your personal information, family income details, landholding, and residential property information.
Step 3: Submit the Required Documents
- Submit the application form along with the necessary documents, such as your income proof, residential address, landholding documents, and others mentioned above.
Step 4: Verification Process
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After applying, the concerned authorities will verify the documents and details provided by the applicant.
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The verification process may involve a field inquiry or a visit to your residential address or property.
Step 5: Certificate Issuance
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Once the verification is complete and the applicant meets all the eligibility criteria, the applicant will be issued the EWS certificate.
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The time taken for processing and issuing the certificate can vary from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the local administration.
Documents Required for EWS Certificate
For the successful application of an EWS Certificate, some supporting evidence should be attached. Here is an exhaustive list of the documents required for the EWS certificate:
| Documents | Description |
| Aadhar Card | Proof of identification |
| PAN Card | Additional identity proof |
| Income Certificate | Proof of annual income (less than INR 8 lakh) |
| Bank Statement | Financial transactions showing income |
| Caste Certificate | If available, to show the general category status |
| Property/Land Proof | Proof of landholding not exceeding prescribed limits |
| Domicile Certificate | Proof of residence |
| Passport-sized Photograph | Recent photograph for identification purposes |
| Self-Declaration | Affidavit confirming that you meet the EWS criteria |
The mention of the documents listed above for the EWS certificate is necessary. Depending on the state's requirements, these papers should accompany the application form, whether online or in person.
Eligibility Criteria for EWS Certificate
To apply, applicants must confirm that they qualify under the eligibility criteria. Here are the key points:
1) General Category:
Application is available only to the general category.
2) Family Income:
The households applying should only have income growing up to 8 lakh rupees a year, pressing in all means such as salaries, agricultural incomes, business benefits, etc.
3) Land and Property:
- 5 acres of agricultural land should be the maximum permitted.
- 100 squares of residential property should be the maximum sanctioned.
- In areas of notified municipalities, the residential plot size limit is 100 square yards, and in areas that are not notified, the size limit is 240 square yards.
What is an EWS Certificate?
An EWS Certificate is an income or asset certificate the Government of India gives to selected people in the general category as they fall under economic backwardness. This allows them to get a government and educational 10% reservation.
The EWS Certificate is different from the OBC certificate since this one explicitly targets the poorer sections of society who are a part of the General category. This certificate was enacted through The EWS Bill 2019 and passed in January 2019. The following explains the concepts of EWS and its scope of work, the advantages of holding an EWS certificate, and the bodies responsible for its issuance.
EWS Certificate Key Highlights
Individuals require the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificate from the general category living in India and looking for a 10% quota in the jobs and educational institutions in India. Such a certificate is given to assist individuals who make less than INR 8 lakh yearly and whose assets are limited.
Those who make a successful application and fall within this criteria will qualify for the benefits of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019. There is a specific duration for the validity of the EWS certificate, and it must be renewed every year. A table containing the important features of the EWS certificate has been provided below to aid the understanding of the readers:
| Parameter | Details |
| Certificate Name | EWS (Economically Weaker Section) Certificate |
| Income Criteria | Annual family income must be less than Rs. 8 lakh |
| Property Restrictions | - Agricultural land ≤ 5 acres- Residential property ≤ 1000 sq. ft.- Plots ≤ 100/200 sq. yards |
| Reservation Quota | 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions |
| Issuing Authorities | District Magistrate, Revenue Officer, Tehsildar, etc. |
| Validity | One year (renewal required) |
| Application Modes | Online and Offline (varies by state) |
| Key Benefits | Reservation benefits in education, government jobs, and financial subsidies |
Issuing Authorities for EWS Certificate
Specific government officials issue the EWS Certificate. Below is a table listing some of the authorised personnel:
| Authority | Position |
| District Magistrate | District-level officer |
| Sub-Divisional Magistrate | Officer in charge of a sub-division |
| Collector | Administrative officer |
| Taluka Magistrate | In charge of taluka-level issues |
| Revenue Officer | Officers responsible for income records |
Note: Officers below the rank of Tehsildar are not eligible to issue EWS certificates.
Benefits of EWS Certificate
Holders of an EWS certificate will enjoy several advantages:
- Reservation in Education: 10% reservation for EWS in educational institutions of higher learning nationwide.
- Jobs with the Government: An allocation of 10% for employment opportunities in the government sector is realistic.
- Other Subsidy Schemes: A few regions prefer providing special incentives to EWS holders in multiple sectors.
EWS Certificate Validity and Renewal
Once granted, The EWS Certificate usually remains valid for one year and is renewable after that. If you still comply with the criteria, it is evident that you should renew the certificate. Before applying, look out for the date mentioned on the certificate to avoid future problems.
How is the EWS Certificate Different from the OBC Certificate?
With the OBC Certificate, one is granted privileges based on social factors and educational backwardness with a reservation of 27 percent.
In contrast, the EWS Certificate is provided only to the general category whose families earn less than INR 80,000 if one assumes the fiscal year quota. In turn, the EWS quota is only reserved for individuals from the general category with the eligible income below 8 lakh.” The key differences are summarised below:
| Parameters | EWS Certificate | OBC Certificate |
| Applicable for | General Category (Economically Weaker Section) | Other Backward Classes (OBC) |
| Annual Income Limit | INR 8 lakh (General Category) | INR 8 lakh (OBC Category) |
| Reservation Percentage | 10% in education and government jobs | 27% in education and government jobs |
| Age Relaxation | No age relaxation | Yes, age relaxation available |
State-Wise Portals to Check EWS Certificate
The applicants can check the status of the EWS Certificate for different states by using the respective state-wise portals. There is a table that is provided state-wise with the state’s name and the corresponding websites from where you can check the status of your EWS certificate application:
| State | Portal Name |
| Andhra Pradesh | Meeseva App |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal eServices Portal |
| Assam | Assam State Portal |
| Bihar | RTPS Portal |
| Chandigarh | e-District Portal |
| Chhattisgarh | e-District Portal |
| Delhi | e-District Portal |
| Gujarat | Digital Gujarat Portal |
| Haryana | e-Disha Portal |
| Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Online Seva |
| Jammu & Kashmir | JK State e-Services |
| Jharkhand | Jharkhand e-District |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP e-District Portal |
| Maharashtra | Aaple Sarkar Portal |
| Manipur | e-District Portal |
| Meghalaya | e-District Portal |
| Mizoram | e-District Portal |
| Nagaland | e-District Portal |
| Odisha | e-District Portal |
| Punjab | Punjab State Portal |
| Rajasthan | e-Mitra Portal |
| Sikkim | e-Services Portal |
| Tamil Nadu | TN e-Sevai |
| Telangana | MeeSeva Portal |
| Tripura | e-District Portal |
| Uttarakhand | e-District Portal |
| Uttar Pradesh | e-Saathi Portal |
| West Bengal | WB e-District |
