Documents required for EWS certificate (10% reservation)

• Application form (EWS) — in the format prescribed by DoPT OM No.36039/1/2019-Estt(Res) dated 31.01.2019; downloadable from your state portal
• Aadhaar of applicant and family members — identity for the family unit
• Family Income Certificate (Annual) — from Tehsildar; family income below Rs. 8 lakh
• PAN of all earning family members — for income verification
• Land/property details (self-declaration + supporting) — to satisfy the asset test below
• Caste affidavit — declaring the applicant belongs to General Category (NOT SC/ST/OBC)
• Self-declaration of family composition — on stamp paper (value as per state rule)
• Two passport-size photographs — recent

• Bank statements (last 6–12 months) — for all earning members
• Property tax receipts — for asset declaration
• Patwari report — for rural applicants
• Form 16 / ITR (last 3 years) — for salaried and self-employed family members
• Disability certificate — only if the applicant also claims separate PwD reservation

• Income limit: family gross annual income below Rs. 8 lakh — income from all sources (salary, agriculture, business, profession) for the financial year before the year of application.
• Asset test — ANY ONE of the following disqualifies, irrespective of income:
  1. Agricultural land 5 acres or more;
  2. Residential flat 1,000 sq ft or above;
  3. Residential plot 100 sq yards or above in a notified municipality;
  4. Residential plot 200 sq yards or above outside notified municipalities.
• Property held by the family in different locations is clubbed together for the asset test.
• Only General Category — SC/ST/OBC are excluded (they have their own reservation).
• Family = the person seeking benefit + parents + siblings below 18 + spouse + children below 18.
• Reservation: 10% in central government jobs and central educational institutions, via the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, 2019 (Articles 15(6) and 16(6)). States may notify additional EWS reservation in state posts and institutions.

Tehsildar / SDM office, or your state's e-District portal. Any competent authority listed in the DoPT OM can issue the certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure-I).

→ Official source: DoPT OM No.36039/1/2019-Estt(Res) dated 31.01.2019 — Reservation for EWS (PDF)

If the EWS certificate is refused or the family income is wrongly assessed, you can file an RTI to the Tehsildar's office asking for the verification report and the specific reason for rejection.

→ Use the AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application that asks for the rejection reason.

General Category candidates (not SC/ST/OBC) whose family gross income is below Rs. 8 lakh and who pass the asset test above.

Validity is set by each state — commonly 1 year. Check your state's rule and renew before it lapses.

Any one of: 5+ acres agricultural land, 1,000+ sq ft residential flat, 100+ sq yard residential plot in a notified municipality, or 200+ sq yard plot outside a notified municipality. Meeting any one condition disqualifies, even if income is below Rs. 8 lakh.

No — EWS is only for those not covered under SC/ST/OBC reservation.

• Income Certificate across states: Income Certificate guide
• If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide for certificate delay
• Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
• All documents checklists: All 30 checklists

• DoPT OM No.36039/1/2019-Estt(Res) dated 31.01.2019 (linked above)
• Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act, 2019 — Articles 15(6) and 16(6)
• RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19

Last reviewed: 17 July 2026.