Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Supernumerary
adjective / noun
/ soo-per-NOO-mer-air-ee /
Hard
Meaning
Exceeding the required or usual number; extra or additional positions created beyond the sanctioned strength of an organisation.
Origin / Etymology
Late Latin supernumerarius — super (above) + numerus (number)
Synonyms
Extra
Additional
Surplus
Excess
Antonyms
Regular
Sanctioned
Requisite
Example Sentence
"The Supreme Court directed the government to create supernumerary posts to accommodate OBC candidates who were wrongly excluded from recruitment due to incorrectly applied creamy layer criteria."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Key legal remedy in reservation jurisprudence — courts order supernumerary posts when a recruitment cycle has already concluded but eligible candidates were denied their rightful opportunity. Featured in the March 2026 OBC Creamy Layer ruling where the SC directed supernumerary posts as relief for wrongly excluded PSU/private sector employees' children.
Relevant Subjects