Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) for admission in Central Educational Institutions

Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act 2019, and the reference of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment vide OM No. 20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17th January 2019, enabling provision of reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) who are not covered under the existing scheme of reservations for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, it has been decided to provide reservation in admission to educational institutions subject to a maximum of ten per cent of the total seats in each category. This would not apply to the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution of India.

 

2.         The provision of reservations to the Economically Weaker Sections shall be in accordance with the directions contained in the OM No. 20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17th January 2019 of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and shall be subject to the following:

a)   The reservations shall be provided to EWSs for admission in Central Educational Institutions, (as defined in clause (d) of section (2) of The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006) from the academic year 2019-20 onwards.

b)   The above reservation would not be applicable to the 8 institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions of national & strategic importance as specified in the Schedule to The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, as amended from time to time, and appended to this OM, and to the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article 30 of the Constitution.

c)   Every Central Educational Institution shall, with the prior approval of the appropriate authority (as defined in clause (c) of section 2 of The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006), increase the number of seats over and above its annual permitted strength in each branch of study or faculty so that the number of seats available, excluding those reserved for the persons belonging to the EWSs, is not less than the number of such seats available, in each category, for the academic session immediately preceding the date of the coming into force of this O.M.

d)   Where, on a representation by any Central Educational Institution, the appropriate authority is satisfied that for reasons of financial, physical or academic limitations or in order to maintain the standards of education, the annual permitted strength in any branch of study or faculty of such institution cannot be increased for the academic session following the commencement of this Act, it may permit such institution to increase the annual permitted strength over a maximum period of two years beginning with the academic session following the commencement of this Act; and then, the extent of reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections shall be limited for that academic session in such manner that the number of seats made available to the Economically Weaker Sections for each academic session shall not reduce the number and the percentage of reservations provided for SC/ST/OBC categories.

e)   The scheme for implementing the reservation for the EWS shall be displayed on the website of the institution as soon as possible, but no later than 31st March 2019.

3.         The Chairman UGC, Chairman AICTE and Chairperson NCTE and the Bureau Heads of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development responsible for management of the Institutions of National Importance are requested to ensure immediate compliance of this OM.

4.         This issues with the approval of the Minister for Human Resource Development.

F. No. 12-4/2019-U1 Dated 17-01-2019