Reservation FAQs

OBC-NCL (Other Backward Class — Non-Creamy Layer) is a central certificate required for reservation at central institutions (IITs, NITs, IIITs). It is issued by a Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) or sub-collector. Key requirement: family income must be below ₹8 lakh per year from all non-agricultural sources. This certificate must be renewed yearly.

No. TN BC (Backward Class) certificate is for TN state institutions only. For NITs and IITs (central institutions), you need the Central Government OBC-NCL certificate. Many TN BC students are not in the Central OBC list or exceed the income limit — apply separately, don't assume TN BC automatically gives NIT OBC reservation.

EWS (Economically Weaker Section) is a 10% horizontal reservation for OC candidates (not SC/ST/OBC) whose family income is below ₹8 lakh per year and who don't own significant assets (no 5+ acres agricultural land, no 1,000+ sq ft house in a notified area). The EWS certificate is issued by a sub-collector or tehsildar.

Tamil Nadu provides 7.5% reservation in medical and engineering admissions for students who studied from Class 6 to Class 12 entirely in Tamil Nadu government schools (TN Govt/Adi Dravidar/Tribal welfare schools). This is a horizontal reservation carved from each existing category's seats — submit a government school study certificate from your school's headmaster.

Yes. The 7.5% government school reservation is a horizontal quota within each category. An SC student who studied in a TN government school is eligible for SC seats under the 7.5% sub-quota — this effectively improves the cutoff for government-school SC students versus private-school SC students.

SC/ST certificates: permanent (lifetime). OBC-NCL (central): 1 year — must be current at the time of counselling. EWS: 1 year — must be current. TN government school certificate: permanent (based on academic record). Always carry original certificates to counselling — photocopies may not be accepted.