An EWS (Economically Weaker Section) certificate supports an eligible applicant’s claim to EWS reservation. The required format and eligibility checks depend on the recruitment or admission process. This guide covers the Maharashtra-state certificate, who issues it, what the government resolution requires, and how it differs from the central certificate. Much of it comes from scanned Marathi government documents that we read and translated ourselves, so we say where a point is our reading.
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First: State Certificate or Central Certificate?
There are two separate systems, and eligibility and exclusions are not interchangeable between them.
| System | Used for | Source we read |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra-state EWS certificate | State government jobs and admissions to state educational institutions | The General Administration Department (GAD) resolution of 12 February 2019, its amendment of 31 May 2021 and a GAD circular of 28 July 2020 |
| Central Income and Asset Certificate | Posts and services of the Government of India | The central Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) office memorandum of 31 January 2019 and EWS FAQ of 19 September 2022 |
The 28 July 2020 circular says the state format must be used for state posts and admissions, and that the central format must not be used for state posts. The category exclusions also differ. The state resolution excludes people whose castes are covered by the state reservation law of 2004. The DoPT FAQ (question 12) says a person who is in a state OBC list but not in the Central OBC list can apply for the central certificate, subject to the other conditions, while those in the Central SC, ST or OBC lists are not eligible (question 11). Check the exclusions for the system you need.
Quick Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who issues the state certificate? | The Tahsildar, who the 2019 resolution names as the competent authority and the 2021 resolution leaves in place. |
| Income limit | Annual family income must be below Rs 8 lakh, counting all applicable income sources for the financial year before the application date. |
| Reservation | 10% in state services and state educational institutions, except minority institutions, per the 2019 resolution as amended in 2021. |
| Time limit | The resolution specifies issuance within 30 days of receiving the application with the required documents. |
| Validity | By our reading of the 2021 resolution, the certificate is issued on the previous financial year’s income and assets and is valid to the end of the financial year. Check the notice for your process, which may state a cut-off date. |
| Where to apply | We did not verify a public EWS application service on Aaple Sarkar. Confirm the current submission channel with the competent Tahsil office. |
State Eligibility: the 2019 Resolution as Amended in 2021
The state requirements come from Maharashtra’s General Administration Department resolution of 12 February 2019 (No. राआधो 4019/प्र.क्र.31/16-अ), which we read as a mirror copy, and the amending resolution of 31 May 2021 with the same file number, which we read on the Maharashtra GR site. Both are Marathi documents that we translated ourselves. The 2021 resolution changed the exclusion rule and the validity rule and kept the income, family, residence and issuing-authority provisions of the 2019 resolution. For your application, also check the current recruitment or admission notice, since we did not read anything issued after 31 May 2021. By our translation, the two resolutions provide:
- 10% reservation in state services and in state educational institutions, except minority institutions, from 1 February 2019.
- Family income below Rs 8 lakh (the resolution’s operative sentence says “less than Rs 8 lakh”), counting all sources such as salary, agriculture and business, for the financial year before the date of filing the application.
- The family means the applicant, parents, siblings under 18, spouse and children under 18.
- The person or their family must have been resident in Maharashtra on or before 13 October 1967. This is a condition of the state resolution, not a rule for central certificates issued in Maharashtra.
- The 10% is for people whose castes are not covered by the reservations in the 2004 Maharashtra Act (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jatis, Nomadic Tribes, Special Backward Category and OBC), and it is in addition to those reservations.
- The 2019 text also excluded people covered by the 2018 SEBC Act. The 2021 resolution removed that exclusion after the Supreme Court’s judgment of 5 May 2021 held the 2018 SEBC quota invalid, so SEBC candidates who meet the other conditions can claim EWS. The resolution predates the 2024 SEBC Act and does not mention it.
- Validity (2021 resolution, paragraph 4): the certificate is issued on the previous financial year’s income and assets, and its validity runs to the end of the financial year. Where a selection has several stages or runs into the next financial year, the advertisement must state the date up to which a certificate is valid.
- The 2021 resolution says it applies to all later educational admissions. For central government posts and admissions it requires the certificate in the format the central government sets.
The CET Cell’s B.E./B.Tech. admission notice of 2 July 2026 asks EWS candidates for the certificate in the format of the 31 May 2021 resolution, and says that format only. For an admission, take the format and conditions from the admission notice.
Ask the issuing office which records establish the historical-residence requirement. A current address document should not be assumed to establish residence in 1967. The resolution’s application format asks how long you have lived in the state if you came from outside, and its evidence list includes a separate set of documents for people who moved into Maharashtra. That list is evidence of residence, not an exemption from the conditions.
We found no land or house ownership limit in the 2019 or 2021 state resolutions or the 2019 application format. That is a statement about what we read, not a finding that Maharashtra has no property limits, that property does not matter, or that anyone below the income limit qualifies. The central framework is different. The DoPT office memorandum of 31 January 2019, which we read on DoPT’s website, says a family is excluded from the central EWS category, whatever its income, if it owns or possesses 5 acres or more of agricultural land, a residential flat of 1,000 sq ft or more, a residential plot of 100 sq yd or more in notified municipalities, or a residential plot of 200 sq yd or more elsewhere. Property in different places is added together, and the income limit is also Rs 8 lakh. The memorandum was issued in continuation of an earlier one dated 19 January 2019, which we did not open. These asset limits are central conditions. They do not automatically apply to a state application.
Who Issues It and How to Apply
The resolution declares the Tahsildar the competent authority, and says the Collector can designate more than one Tahsildar. We did not verify a public EWS application service on Aaple Sarkar, so confirm the current submission channel with the Tahsil office. Before submitting, confirm:
| Confirm | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| State or central certificate | Determines the applicable format and eligibility checks |
| Office jurisdiction | Avoids submitting to the wrong office |
| Current form and submission channel | Prevents reliance on an outdated process |
| Required income year and supporting records | Aligns the application with the intended use |
| Fee and official receipt | Avoids unsupported fee claims; we found no official fee |
| Acknowledgement, tracking and collection arrangements | Gives you a way to follow up |
Documents the Resolution Lists
By our translation of the resolution’s annexures (the application format and the evidence list, with a declaration at the end), the evidence is organised by type:
- Identity proof, any one: voter ID, Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, government ID, PAN or MGNREGA job card.
- Address proof, any one: voter list, water or house tax receipt, 7/12 and 8-A extract, electricity or phone bill, passport or Aadhaar.
- Age proof: a birth certificate or SSC certificate, or if neither exists, a primary school admission extract, bonafide certificate or leaving certificate.
- Income proof, for all applicable sources: Form 16, income tax return or GST proof, a 7/12 and 8-A extract with a Talathi report, a bank or pension certificate for retired members, and details of investment income. This means every source that applies to your family, not just whichever single document is easiest to provide.
- If you moved into Maharashtra: any two of a leaving certificate, electricity bill, rent agreement, phone bill, driving licence or tax receipt, as evidence of residence.
Confirm the current form and list with your Tahsil office before applying.
Time Limit and Appeals
The 2019 resolution specifies issuance within 30 days of receiving the application with the required documents. Keep the acknowledgement and any written request for additional documents. This is a published requirement, not an independently measured processing time or a guarantee of approval.
By our reading, if the certificate is refused or delayed, the first appeal goes to the Sub-Divisional or Deputy Collector of the area, or to an officer nominated by the Collector who is not below Deputy Collector rank. A second appeal goes to the Collector, and the resolution says the appellate officer must decide within 30 days of receiving the appeal. We found no deadline for an applicant to file an appeal. Obtain the written decision and confirm the applicable filing procedure with the office.
Income Year, Certificate Year and Validity
The 2021 state resolution ties validity to the financial year. By our translation, the certificate is issued on the previous financial year’s income and assets and is valid to the end of the financial year, and for selections with several stages the advertisement must state the date up to which it is valid. Follow the notice for your process. The central format has a “valid for the year” field, and the DoPT FAQ ties the dates to the recruitment notice: question 21 says the crucial date for submitting the certificate may be treated as the closing date for receipt of applications unless the notice fixes it otherwise, and that a certificate issued after that date or for a later financial year is a major discrepancy. Question 23 gives an example: if the closing date is 1 August 2022, the income year is 2021-22 and the certificate is valid for 2022-23. Check what the process you are applying to requires:
| Field | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Purpose | The named recruitment or admission process |
| Income year | The financial year required for that process |
| Certificate year | The applicable year shown in the required format |
| Issue or cut-off date | The requirement in the governing notice |
| Format | Maharashtra-state or central |
As one example for its own courses and year, the MHT-CET 2026 information brochure asks for an EWS certificate in the state government format at the time of filling the CAP application form. It is not a deadline for all Maharashtra admissions.
EWS, Non Creamy Layer and Income Certificate
These certificates establish different things and have different eligibility or evidence requirements. An income certificate or Non-Creamy-Layer certificate does not automatically substitute for the EWS certificate named in your notice.
| Certificate | What it establishes | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| EWS (state) | Eligibility for the EWS reservation under the state resolution’s income and other conditions | Tahsildar |
| Non Creamy Layer | A creamy-layer position for categories where that test applies; see our Non-Creamy-Layer guide | Sub Divisional Officer, through Aaple Sarkar (21 days) |
| Income Certificate | Family income for a stated period, a general record | Nayab Tahsildar, through Aaple Sarkar (15 days) |
For caste verification, see our Caste Validity Certificate guide, and for the Aaple Sarkar certificates see our Domicile, Caste and Income Certificate guide.
Before You Apply
- First identify whether you need the Maharashtra-state EWS certificate or the central Income and Asset Certificate. Check the category exclusions for that system; state and central reservation lists are not interchangeable.
- Work out the income year: the financial year before the application date, unless the notice for your process says otherwise.
- Gather income evidence for every applicable source in your family.
- Ask the office which records establish the historical-residence requirement.
- Confirm the submission channel, fee and acknowledgement with your Tahsil office.
- Check that the certificate shows the income year and, for central use, the year it is valid for.
Related Guides
- CIDCO lottery guide: status, prices and eligibility of the CIDCO scheme. A housing scheme’s EWS category follows that scheme’s own income and document rules, not automatically the criteria of this reservation certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues the EWS certificate in Maharashtra?
For the state certificate, the Tahsildar, who the General Administration Department’s resolution of 12 February 2019 names as the competent authority. The Collector can designate more than one Tahsildar.
Can I apply for an EWS certificate on Aaple Sarkar?
We did not verify a public EWS application service on Aaple Sarkar during this review. Confirm the current submission channel with the competent Tahsil office.
What is the income limit for an EWS certificate in Maharashtra?
Annual family income must be below Rs 8 lakh, counting all applicable income sources for the financial year before the application date, per the 2019 resolution. The family means the applicant, parents, siblings under 18, spouse and children under 18.
Is there a property limit for the Maharashtra EWS certificate?
We found no land or house limit in the 2019 or 2021 state resolutions or the 2019 application format, which is not the same as saying Maharashtra has none. The central framework does set asset conditions: 5 acres of agricultural land, a 1,000 sq ft flat, or a plot of 100 or 200 sq yd, under the DoPT memorandum of 31 January 2019. First check whether your process needs the state or the central certificate.
What is the EWS reservation percentage in Maharashtra?
10% in state services and state educational institutions, except minority institutions, under the 2019 resolution. Check your recruitment or admission notice for how it applies.
What documents are needed for an EWS certificate?
Identity, address and age proof, plus income proof for all applicable sources, such as Form 16, a tax return or a 7/12 extract with a Talathi report. People who moved into Maharashtra also provide residence evidence. Check the current list with your Tahsil office.
How long does it take to get an EWS certificate?
The 2019 resolution specifies issuance within 30 days of receiving the application with the required documents. That is a published requirement, not a measured processing time or a guarantee of approval.
What can I do if the certificate is refused or delayed?
By our reading, the first appeal goes to the Sub-Divisional or Deputy Collector or a Collector-nominated officer of at least Deputy Collector rank, and a second appeal to the Collector. We found no filing deadline. Obtain the written decision and confirm the procedure with the office.
How long is an EWS certificate valid?
By our translation of the 2021 state resolution, a certificate is issued on the previous financial year’s income and assets and is valid to the end of the financial year, and the advertisement for a multi-stage selection must state the date up to which it is valid. The central format has a valid-for year tied to the recruitment notice’s crucial date. Check the notice for your admission or job.
Can I use a central EWS certificate for a Maharashtra job or admission?
A 2020 GAD circular says the state format must be used for state jobs and state educational institutions, and that the central format must not be used for state posts. Ask the institution which format it accepts.
Is the EWS certificate the same as an income certificate or a non-creamy layer certificate?
No. These certificates establish different things and have different eligibility or evidence requirements. An income certificate or Non-Creamy-Layer certificate does not automatically substitute for the EWS certificate named in your notice.
Is the EWS certificate only for upper castes?
No document we read names a community. The central DoPT memorandum covers persons who are not covered by the reservation scheme for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The Maharashtra resolution excludes people covered by the state reservation laws, which include Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Vimukta Jatis, Nomadic Tribes, Special Backward Category, OBC and SEBC. Eligibility needs every condition to be met: the category exclusion, family income, the residence rule for the state certificate and, for the central certificate, the asset limits.
Do EWS students get a fee concession in Maharashtra?
EWS reservation is about seats and posts. Separately, the Directorate of Technical Education’s Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Education Fee Scholarship Scheme lists EBC, EWS and SEBC students as eligible, with a family income limit shown as up to Rs 8 lakh. For professional courses it gives 50% of the education and examination fee to male students and, from 2024-25, 100% to female students, and it uses the state’s DBT portal. The page was last updated on 20 November 2025, so check the notice for your academic year.
Can a Maratha candidate under the SEBC Act also claim EWS?
The 2021 state resolution, issued after the Supreme Court held the 2018 SEBC quota invalid on 5 May 2021, removed the 2019 exclusion of SEBC candidates, so a candidate who meets the other EWS conditions can claim EWS on a proper certificate. It also kept some benefits it had given SEBC candidates for 9 September 2020 to 5 May 2021. That resolution predates the 2024 SEBC Act and does not mention it, and we found no official resolution explaining how applicants under the 2024 Act relate to EWS. Follow the recruitment or admission notice and ask the authority which category you can use.
Sources and Verification Date
Sources checked on 2 and 3 October 2026: the GAD resolution of 12 February 2019 (mirror copy), its amendment of 31 May 2021 (Maharashtra GR site) and the GAD circular of 28 July 2020 (hosted copy), both scanned Marathi documents that we read as images and translated ourselves; the DoPT office memorandum of 31 January 2019; the DoPT EWS FAQ of 19 September 2022; the Directorate of Technical Education’s fee scholarship scheme page; the MHT-CET 2026 information brochure; and the Aaple Sarkar service pages for Non Creamy Layer and Income Certificate. The 2019 resolution was read as a mirror copy and the 2021 resolution on the Maharashtra GR site. We did not read any state resolution issued after 31 May 2021, complete an application or find an official fee. Verify current rules with your Tahsil office before applying.
