Mon Feb 17 18:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Madhya Pradesh High Court Grants Interim Relief to EWS Candidates in UPSC Civil Services Exam

**Bhopal, India** – The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted interim relief to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates applying for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025. The court has directed the UPSC to allow EWS candidates the same age relaxation (5 years) and number of attempts (9) as other reserved categories. This decision comes in response to a petition filed by Aditya Narayan Pandey from Maihar, Madhya Pradesh.

Previously, EWS candidates were not eligible for age relaxation and were limited to six attempts. The High Court’s order, however, is not a final judgement and further hearings are pending. The UPSC is expected to respond to the court’s order on Tuesday.

The High Court has instructed the UPSC to accept applications from all EWS candidates, including the petitioner, regardless of whether they meet the current age and eligibility criteria. This decision is based on the principles of social justice and equality. While applications will be accepted, the court clarified that final appointment orders cannot be issued without its permission.

This interim relief follows a similar decision by a division bench of the High Court in the Madhya Pradesh Teacher Selection Examination 2024, where EWS candidates were also granted a five-year age relaxation. The court cited Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution in both cases.

The UPSC CSE 2025 preliminary exam is scheduled for May 25, 2025, for 979 positions. The application deadline was February 18th, 2025, with a correction window open until February 25th. The age limit for applicants is 21-32 years as of August 1, 2025. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibbal represented the petitioner via video conferencing.

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