Meeting Controversy: Poorva Chaudhary & the UPSC Exam Adventure
Controversial discussion on social media centering on allegations that UPSC rank holder Poorva Chaudhary is abusing OBC quota privileges
Poorva Choudhary's triumph in her UPSC exam didn't just make headlines, it stirred a storm on social media! In India, cracking the toughest exam, UPSC, with a mere 0.2% selection rate, is no small feat. But Poorva, who bagged the 533 rank, found herself amidst a tsunami of accusations.
People on social platforms reckoned that she misused the OBC-NCL quota, given her luxurious lifestyle and father's high-profile job in Rajasthan Administration. A string of tweets poured in with rancor, accusing Poorva of leveraging reservation to clear the UPSC while not being eligible for it.
"Another UPSC scam? Poorva Choudhary, a recent qualifier with a designer bag costing ₹4 lakh and an international trip lifestyle, used OBC-NCL certificate to secure her seat," read one such post. Another chimed in, "Is the reservation system justice to the socially backward or yet another success ladder for 'privileged' backwards?"
The firestorm culminated with Poorva disabling her Instagram account, which had gone viral a few days earlier, thanks to her sister's congratulatory post. The caption was a heartwarming, "Sibling goals? One cracked the most difficult exam in our country.The other's writing this caption!!!"
The Father's Defense
After Poorva went silent on social media, her father, Omprakash Saharan, who is a District Collector, stepped up in her defense. He asserted that the accusations were baseless, as people didn't understand the rules.
According to Saharan, the eligibility for the OBC-NCL quota in cases of direct RAS recruitment before the age of 40 does not apply to children. Since he joined the RAS service after the age of 40, the OBC-NCL benefits were indeed applicable to Poorva's case.
This rule not only applies to direct RAS recruitment but also to appointments or promotions in Class I government jobs. Therefore, if a person is promoted to Class I government jobs, their children lose their OBC-NCL quota eligibility. However, since that didn't apply to Saharan, he clarified that no misuse of the OBC-NCL reservation took place.
OBC-NCL Quota In UPSC Exams: The Invisible Line
The Union Public Service Commission maintains clear-cut rules when it comes to using the OBC-NCL quota. For a socially and economically disadvantaged group like OBCs, a 27% reservation is intended in government jobs and education. However, this applies only to the Non-Creamy Layer segment of OBCs, those whose families earn above a certain income threshold or hold high-level government or professional positions being excluded.
If a candidate's family income exceeds the prescribed annual limit of ₹8 lakh or if family members hold high-level positions, the candidate is ineligible for the OBC-NCL quota. In cases where a parent is a government official, if they were recruited before the age of 40, the OBC-NCL benefit does not apply to the candidate. But if the parent was recruited after making 40, the candidate can avail of reservation benefits.
- Poorva Choudhary's father, Omprakash Saharan, defended her against accusations of misusing the OBC-NCL quota, stating that the rule does not apply to children when their parents join the government service after the age of 40.
- The Union Public Service Commission sets a specified income threshold for families to be eligible for the OBC-NCL quota, excluding those with high-level government or professional positions.
- The controversy surrounding Poorva Choudhary's UPSC achievement points to the need for greater awareness and understanding of the rules surrounding OBC-NCL quota use in government jobs and education-and-self-development, as well as the role of social media in shaping public opinion.
