Reservation in UPSC Exam: Criteria, Rules for OBC/ SC/ ST/ EWS/ PwD
Gajendra Singh Godara
Oct 4, 2025
12
mins read
Reservation in the UPSC Civil Services Examination means giving candidates from certain communities special consideration to level the playing field. India’s Constitution and laws mandate these quotas to promote social justice and equal opportunity. In practice, this can include reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD candidates, along with relaxations in age limits, number of attempts, or exam cut-offs. While there is no separate “reservation for women” in UPSC, women from eligible categories (like SC, ST, OBC, or EWS) can still claim the benefits of their respective quotas.
India’s reservation system originated as a form of positive discrimination to uplift historically disadvantaged castes. Constitutional provisions (e.g. Articles 15(4) and 16(4)) explicitly empower the government to reserve jobs and educational seats for SC/ST communities. Over time, reservations were extended to OBCs (27%) and, via the 103rd Amendment, to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) with 10% quota. UPSC follows these national quotas in its exam and service allotment. The current reservation roughly breaks down as follows:
SC - 15% of seats (for Scheduled Castes).
ST - 7.5% of seats (for Scheduled Tribes).
OBC (non-creamy) - 27% of seats (only non-creamy layer OBCs qualify).
EWS - 10% of seats (for Economically Weaker Sections, income ≤ ₹8 lakh).
PwBD - 4% of seats (for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).
Candidates must submit valid proof to claim these benefits: caste/community certificates for SC/ST/OBC, income certificates for EWS, and a medical certificate for PwBD. Overall, UPSC reservation mirrors the wider Indian policy and aims to promote equal representation in civil services.
UPSC gives age relaxation for certain categories applying for the Civil Services Exam. This means people from reserved categories can apply even if they’re older than the general age limit. Here’s the same table in simple words:
Category | Age Relaxation |
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) | 5 Years |
Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 Years |
Defence Personnel | 3 Years |
Orthopedically Handicapped, Blind, Deaf and Mute (PwD) | 3 Years |
In addition to the UPSC eligibility and criterion there these factors that determine your reservation status:
Candidates must belong to the reserved communities officially notified by the Central Government to be eligible for reservation benefits in UPSC exams.
Candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category need to provide a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate to avail reservation.
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) candidates must meet income and asset limits as defined by the Central Government to qualify for reservation.
All applicants claiming reservation benefits must produce valid documentation and certificates to support their eligibility claims.
This ensures fair representation and upliftment of eligible candidates under the reservation system in UPSC.
Under the UPSC reservation policy, 15% of total vacancies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Candidates belonging to these categories must submit a valid caste certificate issued by the competent authority to avail of these reservation benefits.
SC/ST candidates are also granted certain relaxations in the exam process to improve their representation in civil services. These include:
An upper age relaxation of 5 years beyond the general age limit, allowing candidates up to 37 years of age (for the general upper age limit of 32 years).
Relaxed minimum qualifying marks and cutoffs in the preliminary and main examinations.
There is no additional fee for SC/ST candidates when applying for UPSC exams; they pay the same application fees as the general category. Women and candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories are also usually provided fee waivers or concessions during application.
The Other Backward Classes (OBC) category has a 27% reservation in UPSC exams, applicable only to candidates in the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL). OBC creamy layer candidates are not eligible for reservation and must appear under the general category.
Non-Creamy Layer OBC candidates get up to 3 years of age relaxation, allowing a maximum age limit of 35 years (compared to 32 years for the general category). They are also given up to 9 attempts to clear the exam, unlike 6 attempts for general candidates.
To claim reservation benefits, OBC candidates must produce a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued by the competent authority. Without this certificate, candidates will be treated as general category applicants and will not receive any reservation-related relaxations.
The Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category reservation reserves 10% of UPSC seats for general-category candidates who meet specific economic criteria, introduced as per the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019.
Eligibility for EWS reservation requires that the candidate:
Does not belong to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Has a family income below ₹8 lakh per annum from all sources, including agriculture, salary, business, and others.
Does not own agricultural land exceeding 5 acres.
Does not own a residential flat of 1000 square feet or larger.
Does not own a residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities.
Does not own a residential plot of 200 square yards or more in non-notified municipalities.
For EWS reservation, the term ‘family’ includes the applicant, their parents, spouse, children under 18 years, and siblings under 18 years. The combined land and property owned by the family across locations is considered for eligibility.
Candidates claiming EWS reservation must provide a valid Income and Asset Certificate issued by a competent authority such as the District Magistrate or Collector, which has to be current for the year of application.
EWS candidates receive 10% reservation in UPSC exams with the same age limit as the general category (21 to 32 years) and the same number of attempts (6).
This reservation seeks to empower economically disadvantaged candidates within the general category by providing them additional opportunities in the civil services.
The UPSC provides 4% reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. This reservation applies to identified posts across all services, including IAS, IPS, and IFS.
Disabilities are categorized into three main groups:
PH 1: Orthopedically Handicapped (OH)
PH 2: Visually Handicapped (VH)
PH 3: Hearing Handicapped (HH)
To be eligible, candidates must have a minimum of 40% disability, certified by a medical board constituted by the Central or State government.
PwBD candidates receive age relaxation up to 10 years beyond the general category age limit (i.e., up to 42 years).
They are allowed up to 9 attempts in the Civil Services Examination, irrespective of their category, which is more than the general category limit of 6 attempts.
Special provisions at exam centers include assistance such as scribes, extra time (usually 20 minutes per hour), and accessible seating arrangements to accommodate their needs.
Candidates must submit a valid disability certificate during the application process and must meet service-specific functional requirements post-selection for appointment
Although UPSC has reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc., it does not reserve any seats specifically for women. Female candidates compete under the same general rules as men. Women who belong to SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories can claim the reservation benefits of those categories, but gender alone does not give any quota. In short, there is no separate gender-based reservation in UPSC.
Select the appropriate reservation category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD) in the "category" field while filling the UPSC application form online. This determines the reservation benefits for which you’ll be eligible.
Only candidates whose caste/community is listed in the central government’s official list of reserved categories can claim reservation. For OBC, a valid ‘non-creamy layer’ certificate is a must; for EWS, meet the income/asset requirements.
Candidates must upload valid documentary proof online and originals will be checked during the Personality Test/Interview stage.
Once chosen, the category cannot be changed from General to reserved at any stage.
If a disability is acquired during the process, submit legal medical documents to the Commission for consideration.
Ensure all certificates and proofs are current and valid as per central norms; submitting incorrect or mismatched documents may lead to disqualification from the reservation benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q. What is reservation in UPSC?
A. Reservation in UPSC refers to special benefits (like relaxations in eligibility, age/attempt limits, and dedicated vacancies) for certain categories - namely SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD.
Q. What is the reserve list in UPSC?
A. UPSC’s reserve list is a waitlist published after the final results. It includes candidates next in merit who can be appointed if any selected candidates do not join or if extra vacancies appear.
Q. Does OBC creamy layer get reservation in UPSC?
A. No. OBC candidates in the creamy layer are not eligible for reservation in UPSC. Only those in the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) get reserved seats and relaxations. Creamy-layer OBCs have no caste-based advantages.
Q. Is there reservation for women in UPSC?
A. There is no separate reservation for women in UPSC. Women compete under the same rules as men. A woman from SC/ST/OBC/EWS can claim reservation under those categories, but gender alone gives no quota.
Conclusion
Reservation in UPSC is a well-defined policy aiming to include India’s diverse communities in its civil services. The exam reserves roughly 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for non-creamy OBC, 10% for EWS, and 4% for PwBD candidates. There is no separate quota for women or NCC. Applicants in reserved categories enjoy certain relaxations in age, attempts, and cutoffs, but they must still meet all basic eligibility criteria.
Aspirants should ensure they have valid certificates and a clear understanding of the rules for their category. Reservation is only one factor in the UPSC journey: success comes from strong preparation and smart strategy. Candidates from all backgrounds can succeed with hard work.
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