**Policy Summary: Income Limit for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Category**
This document summarizes the Government of India's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4187, answered on August 19, 2025, regarding the income limit for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment clarified the rationale behind the Rs. 8 lakh annual income limit for EWS reservation.
The Ministry stated that while identifying Socially and Educationally Backward Classes emphasizes social backwardness, the EWS category relies solely on income criteria. The Rs. 8 lakh income limit was determined after inter-ministerial consultations.
For the purpose of EWS reservation, "Family" is defined as the person seeking the benefit, their parents, siblings below 18 years of age, spouse, and children below 18 years of age. The income calculation includes income from all sources, such as salary, agriculture, business, and profession. The response also indicates that the government did not conduct a specific study or form a committee to examine the income limit, but it was fixed after inter-ministerial consultation.
The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B.L. Verma, provided the answer to the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): A category of citizens in India who are economically disadvantaged and eligible for reservation benefits.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for the welfare and empowerment of socially disadvantaged groups.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Rs. 8 Lakh: The annual family income limit set as the criteria for eligibility for the EWS category in India.
SHRI MATHESWARAN VS: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question about the income limit for the EWS category.
SHRI B.L.VERMA: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Socially and Educationally Backward Classes: A group of communities in India identified as disadvantaged based on social and educational factors.
India: The country to which the policy document applies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4187
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
INCOME LIMIT FOR EWS CATEGORY
4187. SHRI MATHESWARAN VS:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of deliberations made by Ministry to arrive income limit of Rs. 8 Lakh for
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category;
(b) whether it is a fact that Government did not conduct any study or formed any committee to
examine it;
(c) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(d) whether the Government has any data to set income limit of Rs. 8 Lakh for EWS, if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JU STICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a) to (d): In the identification of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes more emphasis
is given to social backwardness, but to identify the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), only
income criteria is applied.
After inter-ministerial consultation criteria for EWS was fixed for annual family income limit of
Rs. 8.00 lakh for EWS category reservation.
The term "Family" for this purpose includes the person who seeks benefit of reservation,
his/her parents and siblings below the age of 18 years as also his/her spouse and children below
the age of 18 years.. The income included income from all sources ie. salary, agriculture,
business, profession etc.
a EK