Poorva Choudhary, who secured All India Rank 533 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024, has found herself at the centre of an online storm over her use of the Other Backward Class (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) reservation. The controversy erupted after social media users questioned whether she was eligible to claim the quota, given her father's current administrative position.
Responding to the growing criticism, her father, Omprakash Saharan—a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer currently serving as the Additional District Collector in Kotputli—dismissed the allegations, stating that they stem from a misunderstanding of the rules.
“People are unaware of how the eligibility criteria work. In cases of direct RAS recruitment before the age of 40, the OBC NCL benefit does not apply. But I was appointed as an RAS officer at the age of 44,” Saharan told India Today. “So, the claim that my daughter misused the OBC certificate is completely false.”
He further clarified that similar rules apply to Class I officer appointments or promotions: if such appointments happen before the officer turns 40, their children are not eligible for the OBC NCL category. “That’s not my case,” he emphasised.
Saharan also criticised the way misinformation spreads quickly on the internet, especially on trending topics like UPSC. “People follow herd mentality. Many are using this situation to gain views and followers,” he remarked.
He went on to allege that certain social media circles, particularly in Delhi, were driving this narrative. “There’s a lobby that survives on creating controversies. We’ve done nothing wrong,” he asserted.
The backlash against Poorva began after her sister, Navya Saharan, shared a celebratory video on Instagram following the release of the UPSC results. The reel, featuring a series of images of Poorva—including one taken outside the UPSC building—was captioned: “Cleared UPSC while serving this face card.” The video quickly went viral.
However, the tone of the conversation shifted when users noticed that Poorva’s result mentioned the OBC category. Soon after, speculation arose on social media about her eligibility, especially considering her father’s government post.
Despite the criticism, several users pointed out that Saharan’s promotion to RAS—a Group A service—occurred after he turned 40, which, according to government rules, means his children remain eligible for OBC NCL benefits. The eligibility also depends on the family’s annual income, which must not exceed ₹8 lakh (excluding agricultural income).
Also Read: Auto driver’s daughter becomes Maha’s first Muslim IAS
While the legal framework appears to support Poorva’s use of the quota, the debate on social media has largely focused on optics and public perception rather than clear violations of policy.
Poorva, who earlier posted about her result with the caption “sealed with sabr and shukrana,” has since deactivated or restricted access to her Instagram account. Some users have claimed that photos previously posted on her profile reflected a luxurious lifestyle, which further fueled doubts about her eligibility for reservation.
Poorva hails from Bolawali village in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district. Her maternal home is in Bhadra, and she is related to Sanjeev Beniwal, the sitting MLA from the region.
This incident echoes a similar controversy from 2023 involving Pooja Khedkar, who had secured AIR 841 in the UPSC exam. Khedkar faced allegations of misusing the OBC category despite her father’s high income and significant assets, as revealed in his election affidavit. She was later dismissed from service after it was found she had submitted forged documents to avail of reservation benefits.
As the conversation around UPSC and reservation policies continues to evolve, the line between perception and policy remains a contentious one—particularly in an age where social media plays a decisive role in shaping narratives.
Also Read: Goat herder's son becomes IPS Officer after cracking UPSC
Follow us
