The Central Government has initiated an investigation into alleged irregularities in reservation certificates submitted by several civil service officers, including Mr. Ravi Kumar Sihag, a 2022-batch IAS officer currently serving as SDO (Revenue) in Lakhnadon, Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh. Mr. Sihag hails from Ganganagar, Rajasthan.
Centre Orders Probe Into EWS Certificate
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has directed an inquiry into the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and income certificates submitted by Mr. Sihag during his 2021 UPSC attempt. The Chief Secretary of Rajasthan has been asked to verify the authenticity of his documents.
This probe is part of a broader investigation involving 15 civil servants—including 11 IAS, 2 IPS, 1 IFS, and 1 IRS—from various states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Kerala.
What Sparked the Investigation?
The inquiry was prompted by a formal complaint filed on August 16, 2024, which alleged that several officers had manipulated reservation categories—particularly the EWS quota—to gain better ranks and secure preferred services in the civil services examination.
Mr. Sihag, who gained nationwide recognition for his meteoric rise in UPSC rankings, is now under official scrutiny. In a recent media interaction, he acknowledged the inquiry and stated that “everything will be clear once the investigation is complete.”
Ravi Sihag’s UPSC Journey
Mr. Sihag’s path to the IAS has been remarkable:
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2018: Cleared UPSC with AIR 337, joined Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
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2019: Improved to AIR 317, joined Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
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2020: Did not qualify
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2021: Cracked UPSC with AIR 18, secured entry into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
His success story went viral on social media, inspiring thousands of aspirants through motivational posts, fan pages, and videos. However, this increased visibility also brought his credentials under public and official scrutiny.
Allegations Around EWS Status
The controversy centers on the following claims:
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Mr. Sihag did not claim any reservation in his 2018 and 2019 attempts.
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In 2021, he applied under the EWS quota, allegedly helping him achieve a higher rank and secure an IAS seat.
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He is accused of concealing his EWS status while sharing his results on social media.
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Critics allege that his family owns multiple acres of agricultural land, which may disqualify him from EWS eligibility.
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Some claim that land transfers to relatives were made to reduce assets and meet EWS criteria ahead of the 2021 examination.
As of now, no official findings have confirmed these allegations. The outcome of the DoPT-led investigation will determine the next steps.
Clarification from Seoni District Collector
Amid growing speculation, Seoni Collector Ms. Sanskriti Jain, IAS (2015 batch), clarified that no directive has been issued to her office to conduct any investigation into Mr. Sihag. This indicates that the matter is being addressed at the central and state levels, not at the district level.
