EWS Relaxation Demand Resounds in JNU, Jamia, Delhi University: Students Call for Equality
Students are challenging the stringent provisions concerning land ownership, building, and age limitations imposed on EWS candidates, decrying the perceived discrimination when compared to Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation criteria.
Students across Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia have intensified their demand for changes to the eligibility norms under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota. Their main concern is that certain conditions — particularly those relating to land ownership, residential property and age limits — place EWS applicants at a disadvantage when compared to candidates under the OBC quota.
Students participating in the programmes argue that the current EWS criteria do not reflect the economic realities of many families. They point out that the requirement of not owning more than five acres of agricultural land or a house measuring above prescribed limits excludes several families who are still financially strained. They have also asked why the EWS category does not offer the same age relaxations available to OBC applicants.
Jamia Millia Islamia offers admission to a total of four BSc/ BSc (Hons) courses via CUET UG. As per the CUET UG website, students seeking admission to BSc at Jamia Millia must appear for and qualify CUET exam. However, since some universities are also considering other components while giving admission to CUET-UG based courses, it could be a possibility of getting into JMI without CUET.
But, this being said there is no official information on whether the university will only consider CUET UG scores or other components as well for admission, it is tough to give the right answer. Students are therefore advised to reach out to the admission office for more details.
To get complete details about a BSc programme, Click Here.
As per the CUET UG website, students seeking admission to BA at Jamia Millia must appear for and qualify CUET exam. However, since some universities are also considering other components while giving admission to CUET-UG based courses, it could be a possibility of getting into JMI without CUET. But, this being said there is no official information on whether the university will only consider CUET UG scores or other components as well for admission, it is tough to give the right answer. Students are therefore advised to reach out to the admission office for more details.
Tuesday’s gatherings saw active participation from students who said that the criteria “create unequal opportunities within a system meant to support economically weaker students.” They also highlighted that the absence of parity between EWS and OBC relaxations “defeats the purpose of fair access.”
The issue has also been raised in Parliament. Congress leader Digvijay Singh recently flagged concerns in the Rajya Sabha, noting that the stringent norms have led to very low representation of EWS candidates in several government recruitment processes, including UPSC examinations. He said the restrictive conditions disproportionately affect women from economically vulnerable backgrounds.
Students say they will continue pressing for reforms so that the EWS category aligns more closely with the principles of equity applied in other reservation categories. Their appeal is that the criteria should be realistic and should not exclude candidates who genuinely need support.
There are over 965 seats for MA courses. The seat reservation policy is carried out as per a set of rules. Reservation of seats in various programmes of study for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (Non Creamy Layer (NCL) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category is 15%, 7.5%, 27% and 10%, respectively. As per the provisions of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 2016, not less than 5% seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
Jamia Millia Islamia offers a two-year MA programme, admission to which is offered based on the entrance conducted by the university, i.e. JMI Entrance Eest. More details for Jamia Millia Islamia fee for MA along with its eligibility, selection criteria and seat intake are as follows:
MA Specialisation | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
English | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Hindi | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Mass Media (Hindi) - self-financed | UG degree in any discipline with a minimum 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA |
History | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Islamic Studies | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Economics | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 55% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Political Science | BA/ BA (Hons)/ BSc/ BSc (Hons)/ BCom/ BCom (Hons) or a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the subject concerned |
Sociology | UG degree in any discipline with a minimum 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA |
Politics, International & Area Studies | UG degree in any discipline with a minimum 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA |
Mass Communication | UG degree in any discipline with a minimum 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA |
In addition to the above 10 MA specialisations, the university also offers MA across 25 specialisations, namely, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, HRM, and Geography, among others.
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Abhay Anand is an experienced education journalist with over 15 years in print and digital media. Currently serving as Manager- Editorial at Shiksha.com, he specializes in higher education policy, student mobility,
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