The Gujarat government is going to consider Rs 8 lakh annual income cap as the sole criterion for providing 10 per cent reservation to candidates from the economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category, reports The New Indian Express.

According to the report, the decision in this regard was taken in a meeting of state cabinet on Wednesday (23 January).

The state government will not consider land or house qualifications of the beneficiary as long as the annual income of the family falls within the Rs 8 lakh cap. However, to avail the benefit, the family of the beneficiary should be residing in the state from before 1978.

"The government reserves 33 per cent seats for women. Therefore, 33 per cent seats out of 10 per cent reserved for the economically weaker section candidates among the general category will be reserved for women," a government statement was quoted in the report as saying.

"The government has decided to consider only one aspect of family income of less than Rs 8 lakh as the eligibility criterion for candidates from general category to qualify for the 10 per cent EWS quota," it said.

To avail the EWS quota benefit, the Center has, however, set an annual income cap of less than Rs 8 lakh along with other criteria such as the family owning less than 5 acre farm land; having less than 1,000 sq feet house in a town or 100 sq yard house in the notified municipal area.