Delhi's EWS Admission Policy Under Scrutiny: Income Limits Proposed for Revision

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended increasing the income limit for EWS category admissions in Delhi's private schools. The current limit is Rs 1 lakh, and he suggests a rise to Rs 5 lakh, or ideally Rs 8 lakh, in line with higher education standards, to address the vacancy in reserved seats.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has advocated for the Delhi government to raise the income ceiling for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) admissions in private schools. Currently set at Rs 1 lakh, Saxena suggests aligning it with the Rs 8 lakh threshold applicable in higher education or at least increasing it to Rs 5 lakh as advised by the High Court, citing unfilled seats as evidence of existing policy shortcomings.

Saxena noted the threshold for EWS seats remains outdated, failing to account for the city's wage trends. He emphasized that as per Delhi government's notifications, skilled workers earn an annual income exceeding the present limit. On average, around 11 percent of these reserved seats stay empty, indicating inadequate policy on part of the Delhi government.

The Lieutenant Governor's call for revisiting income limits echoes the Delhi High Court's recent observation about adapting to the changing economic environment. Saxena stressed that an outdated threshold exacerbates inequality, urging the Chief Minister to revise limits to ensure equitable access for the economically disadvantaged population in Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies.)