Bihar Rules Out Age Relaxation for EWS Reservation

Patna: The Bihar government has ruled out any relaxation in the age limit for candidates applying under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation in the state. Minister-in-charge Shravan Kumar clarified the government’s position in the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Thursday, stating that the state’s policies align with the provisions set by the Centre.

Kumar said the 10% EWS reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, introduced under the 103rd Amendment to the Constitution, does not include any provision for age relaxation. “The Centre’s memorandum does not provide for an age limit relaxation for the EWS category. Therefore, the state government has no such provision in its rules,” he said in response to a query raised by JD(U) MLA Dr Sanjeev Kumar and others.

He further stated that only the central government has the authority to make changes in this regard. “If the Centre amends the Constitution to allow age relaxation under EWS reservation, then only will the state consider implementing it,” Kumar said.

The policy was formulated based on an office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, on January 31, 2019. Following this directive, Bihar’s General Administration Department framed rules to ensure EWS reservation in recruitment and admissions.