Poorva Choudhary, who secured All India Rank 533 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2024, has found herself at the center of a social media controversy. The uproar began after her sister, Navya Saharan, posted a celebratory Instagram reel featuring Poorva with the caption, “Cleared UPSC while serving this face card.” The post went viral — and soon turned contentious when users spotted the term “OBC” alongside her name in the official result sheet.
Critics online alleged that Poorva had unfairly availed the OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) reservation benefit, citing her father’s senior government position. The debate escalated quickly, prompting speculation over whether her family background made her ineligible under government norms for the OBC NCL category.
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Father Responds: “Promoted After 40, So Still Eligible”
To counter the accusations, Omprakash Saharan, Poorva’s father and a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer currently posted as Additional District Collector in Kotputli, spoke to the media, firmly stating that the allegations were factually incorrect and malicious.
He clarified that:
“In the case of direct RAS recruitment before the age of 40, the OBC NCL benefit does not apply. But I became an RAS officer at 44, through promotion, not direct recruitment. My daughter’s certificate is valid.”
As per central government guidelines, children of Group A officers who are promoted to such posts after the age of 40 remain eligible for the OBC NCL reservation—provided the family income (excluding agricultural income) remains under ₹8 lakh annually.
Saharan further claimed that some online trolls and coordinated groups, especially in Delhi, were fueling the narrative for engagement and political motives.
Past Precedents and Social Media Scrutiny
This is not the first time such controversy has erupted around UPSC rankers and their reservation claims. In 2023, another civil services candidate, Pooja Khedkar, faced public outrage after allegedly misusing the OBC category, with her father reportedly declaring assets worth ₹40 crore in an election affidavit. She was later dismissed from service over allegations of forged documents and non-eligibility.
Poorva Choudhary’s case, however, appears legally sound according to existing eligibility norms. But the internet debate has highlighted a deeper societal perception problem, where wealth indicators, lifestyle posts, or political links spark doubt—even in cases that comply with rules.
Poorva, who hails from Bolawali village in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, is also related to sitting MLA Sanjeev Beniwal. Following the backlash, her Instagram account has been disabled, and no public statement has been issued from her directly.
While the legal framework supports Poorva’s eligibility under the OBC NCL quota, the court of public opinion appears increasingly skeptical—especially in the age of viral posts and online audits. The episode underscores the urgent need for awareness campaigns around reservation criteria, transparency in verification, and restraint in online witch-hunts that often lack factual basis.