Jabalpur (UPSC EWS Age Relaxation): Lakhs of candidates preparing for the UPSC exam were waiting for this decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Finally today the court has ended the wait by giving the final decision. The court has refused to give age relaxation to EWS candidates in the UPSC exam. There was a possibility of age relaxation for candidates from economically weaker sections in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025, but this relaxation was not implemented permanently.

This matter was raised in the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the court has given both interim and final decisions on it. Along with this, the court has also rejected the demand to give 9 attempts in the examination to State OBC candidates like Central OBC. Aditya Narayan Pandey of Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, and others had filed a petition in the High Court seeking relief for EWS candidates. UPSC prelims exam for 979 posts will be held on 25 May 2025.

The big decision of Madhya Pradesh High Court

Interim order (14 February 2025)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in an interim order, had directed the UPSC to allow EWS candidates to apply for the Civil Services Examination 2025, with a relaxation of 5 years in the age limit and the benefit of 9 attempts. As the last date of application (18 February 2025) was near, the court considered it appropriate to give a chance to the petitioners. However, the court had clarified that the results and appointment of these candidates would depend on the final decision.

Final decision (18 March 2025)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has rejected the demand for relaxation in the age limit to EWS. The court said in its decision that there is no provision for such relaxation for EWS in the existing law and the guidelines of DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training). UPSC argued in the court that EWS is considered equal to the general category and reservation has been given only on an economic basis, not additional benefits based on historical deprivation (like SC/ST/OBC).

The court accepted this argument and dismissed all 17 related petitions. Also, the demand of State OBC candidates for 9 attempts like Central OBC was rejected.

UPSC Age Limit: Who will get how much relaxation in UPSC?

The maximum age limit for the general and EWS categories in UPSC exam will remain 32 years and 6 attempts. At the same time, OBC gets 35 years and 9 attempts, and SC/ST gets 37 years and unlimited attempts.

However, this matter can be challenged in the Supreme Court. Changes in this policy are possible in the future.

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