The Full form of EWS is Economically Weaker Section. EWS is a subcategory of people in India who belong to General Category but have an annual income up to Rs. 1 lakh and do not belong to any other reserved category such as SC, ST, OBC. A person, whose family income is more than 1 lakh, will be considered as a person from the General category, but not from the EWS category.
The Govt. of India has given the definition of EWS and it is different from Economically Backward Class (EBC). The definition of EBC (Economically Backward Class) and MEBC (Most Economically Backward Class) vary in different institutions and states. The Central Government has introduced 10% reservation quota recently for the EWSs (Economically Weaker Sections) of General Category candidates. The eligibility to get the EWS certificate in India is not based only on a single factor of annual income.
It may consider your held property, annual income, residential flat, etc. The income limit for the students to get admission to central government-owned colleges and jobs offered is set by the central government. However, government of a state may set a different income limit for candidates seeking admission in the state-owned colleges and jobs in state government through reservation under EWS category.