MP HC directs UPSC to give EWS category candidates a 5-year age relaxation

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on February 14 issued an interim order directing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to permit candidates of economically weaker sections (EWS) category to fill the form for the Civil Service Exam with a five year relaxation in the permissible age bracket and provide them with nine attempts, similar to other reserved categories, reported Ashutosh Shukla and Siddharth Pandey from TOI.

The bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Suresh Jain said that the results of candidates under the EWS category would be subject to the final verdict of the court.

The petition filed by Aditya Narayan Pandey from Madhya Pradesh's Maihar town. He had questioned why EWS category candidates do not receive the same benefits in age limit and number of attempts as compared to other reserved categories.


The petition argues that EWS candidates must have the same benefits as other reserved classes and should not be clubbed with the general category. Candidates from reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC and disables, have five years' relaxation in upper age limit and nine attempts.

The UPSC has said that there are 979 posts for Civil Service Examination 2025. The prelims have been scheduled for May 25.

The Centre and the counsel for UPSC sought time to file objections to the petition.

However, the court said, "Since the last date to fill up forms is approaching, we deem it appropriate to permit the petitioner to apply for the same. UPSC is directed to accept the application of the petitioner as well as all other similarly situated candidates for CSE-2025 without reference to the existing qualification or age, but subject to compliance of other conditions. he applications will be accepted on the aforesaid condition up to seven days from today (February 14) and subject to further orders of this court."

"However, appointment orders of such candidates... shall not be issued without leave of this court," the bench added. Next hearing is on Tuesday.