Tamil Nadu: SBI Clerk Prelim Results Kick Off Storm As Lower Cut Off Declared For EWS Than SC/ST Categories

The results of the SBI clerk exams have kicked off a storm after they were released on Tuesday (23 July) as the cut off to qualify for the main exam for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates applying for Tamil Nadu vacancies was higher than the cut off for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates from the state, reports The New Indian Express.

The EWS cut off was just 28.5 marks out of a total of 100, while SC candidates needed to get at least 61.25 marks and ST candidates had to score at least 53.75. The anomaly may be attributed to the fact that very candidates from the EWS category applied for clerical posts from Tamil Nadu, considering their relatively high levels of educational attainment and employment.

“I scored 48.5, but could not qualify under the SC quota. Students who I know with 33 marks have qualified under EWS quota. This is unacceptable,” said applicant S Rajkumar.

The EWS quota is a new reservation category created by the Centre earlier this year; it effectively provides 10 per cent reservation to forward caste candidates who come from families meeting certain criteria, such as having an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh.

Out of the 425 clerical vacancies in Tamil Nadu, 42 are reserved under the EWS category.