OBC Candidates Surpass EWS in UPSC 2025 Final Merit List, Reversing Recent Trend
In a significant development that has upended recent patterns in the Civil Service Examinations (CSE), candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBC) have trumped those from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the final merit list for the 2025 cycle. This outcome is particularly notable because OBC candidates trailed behind EWS candidates in the interview round, making their overall victory a reversal of the trend observed in previous years.
Detailed Cut-Off Marks Reveal the Shift
The final cut-off marks, which combine scores from the Mains examination and the interview, tell a compelling story. For the EWS category, the final cut-off stands at 926 marks, while for OBCs, it is slightly higher at 931 marks. This marks a clear reversal from recent years where EWS typically finished ahead.
Looking at the Mains examination alone, the cut-off for EWS was 706 marks, compared to 717 marks for OBCs. Cut-off marks represent the minimum qualifying score required for candidates availing of reservation quotas, and they vary across different social categories including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), OBC, and EWS.
Expert Analysis Points to Written Exam Performance
Shashank Ratnoo, an advocate specializing in issues concerning OBCs and reservation, provided insight into this development. He stated, "Despite a certain drag in OBCs' marks in interviews, their marks in written exams were so high that it has resulted in better final cut-off than that of Economically Weaker Section."
This analysis highlights how OBC candidates' strong performance in the written Mains examination compensated for their weaker showing in interviews, ultimately leading to a higher final cut-off than EWS candidates.
Historical Context and Recent Trends
The EWS quota was introduced in 2019 to provide 10% reservation to financially weaker individuals among the 'general' communities who do not benefit from existing caste-based reservations. In contrast, the Mandal quotas for OBCs have been in operation since 1995, providing a longer history of reservation benefits.
In recent years, the competition between these two reserved categories has shown interesting dynamics:
- 2024 Examination: In the Mains exams, EWS had a cut-off of 696 marks compared to 702 for OBCs. However, after interviews, EWS finished ahead with a final cut-off of 917 marks against 910 for OBCs.
- 2023 Examination: In the Mains, OBCs scored a cut-off of 712 compared to 706 for EWS. But in the final results, OBCs trailed with 919 marks against EWS's 923 marks.
These patterns show that while OBCs often performed better in written exams, EWS candidates typically excelled in interviews, giving them the edge in final results in recent years.
Questions Raised About EWS Reservation Implementation
Shashank Ratnoo raised important questions about the EWS reservation system, noting, "Higher interview marks for EWS in such a short time of introduction of its reservation raises a question mark over the need, percentage and strictness of the criteria for this category."
This comment suggests that the rapid success of EWS candidates in interview rounds, despite the category's relatively recent introduction, warrants examination of how the quota is implemented and whether its criteria might need adjustment.
A Seesaw Pattern Emerges Over Time
The competition between OBC and EWS candidates in UPSC examinations has followed a seesaw pattern since the introduction of the EWS quota in 2019:
- In 2019 and 2020, immediately after the EWS quota's introduction, OBC candidates dominated both the Mains examinations and final results.
- This initial OBC dominance was somewhat surprising given that EWS includes groups with fewer social handicaps, but it was attributed to teething troubles of the new quota system.
- As the EWS category became more established, candidates from this group began to close the gap and eventually surpass OBC candidates in recent years.
- The 2025 results now mark another shift, with OBC candidates regaining the advantage despite continued weaker performance in interviews.
This evolving dynamic reflects how different reservation categories interact within India's competitive examination system, with candidates adapting to new opportunities and changing their preparation strategies over time.
