The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious competitive exams in India. The number of attempts a candidate can make varies based on their category. For candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), the number of attempts allowed is six, which is the same as that for General category candidates.
Number of Attempts by Category
The number of attempts permitted for different categories of candidates is as follows:
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General category: 6 attempts until the age of 32
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OBC category: 9 attempts until the age of 35
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SC/ST category: Unlimited attempts until the age of 37
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Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 9 attempts until the age of 42
EWS Eligibility Criteria
The EWS category is applicable to candidates who belong to the General category but meet certain economic criteria. To qualify for the EWS reservation, a candidate’s family income should be below Rs. 8 lakh per annum. The EWS category provides a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, including UPSC recruitments.
Age Relaxation for EWS Candidates
Unlike OBC, SC, and ST candidates, EWS candidates do not get any age relaxation. The upper age limit remains 32 years, which is the same as that for General category candidates.
Attempt Count in UPSC CSE
An attempt is counted when a candidate appears for any paper of the Preliminary Examination. If a candidate registers for the exam but does not appear for either of the two papers, the attempt is not counted.
Reservation in UPSC for SC/ST/OBC/EWS Categories
The Government of India provides category-based reservations in the UPSC Civil Services Examination:
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SC/ST candidates: 15% (SC) and 7.5% (ST) reservation
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OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates: 27% reservation
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EWS candidates: 10% reservation
Recent Developments: Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Decision
On January 2, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the UPSC to provide EWS candidates with the same benefits as other reserved categories. This includes five years of age relaxation and nine attempts instead of six. If implemented, this would significantly impact the eligibility criteria for EWS candidates in future UPSC exams.
UPSC: MP High Court Grants Major Relief to EWS Candidates for CSE-2025
In a landmark ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted EWS candidates a five-year age relaxation and increased the number of attempts to nine. This decision aligns EWS candidates with other reserved categories and ensures fairer opportunities in UPSC CSE.
Key Highlights of the High Court Ruling:
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EWS candidates can now apply for UPSC CSE until the age of 37 instead of 32.
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The number of attempts has been increased from 6 to 9.
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This ruling is expected to be a historic step towards equality in administrative services.
The decision was made following a petition filed by Aditya Narayan Pandey from Maihar, who argued that EWS candidates were being treated the same as General category candidates despite being part of a reserved section. The division bench of Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain directed the UPSC to implement these changes and instructed that no appointment orders should be issued without prior approval.
The court has scheduled a further hearing to review UPSC’s response regarding an extension of the application deadline. Meanwhile, EWS candidates are now allowed to submit applications based on the updated criteria.
With 979 vacancies in UPSC CSE 2025, and the Preliminary Examination set for May 25, 2025, this ruling represents a significant milestone in providing a fairer and more equitable selection process for economically weaker candidates.
Conclusion
The number of attempts and age limits for EWS candidates currently remain the same as the General category, but recent legal developments may lead to changes. Candidates aspiring for the UPSC Civil Services Examination should stay updated with official UPSC notifications to know about any modifications in eligibility criteria or relaxations for the EWS category.
