News Analysis India

Tag: UPSC

  • SC rejects plea for extra chance in UPSC exam to those having exhausted last attempt amid pandemic

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea that sought another shot at the civil service examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. 

    The verdict came as a setback to over 10,000 aspirants who exhausted their last chance in the 2020 preliminary exam or have got age-barred from appearing in future tests. No extra chance will be given to the aspirants who exhausted their last attempt in October 2020, a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar  said.

    The court called the petitioner’s reasoning that the pandemic had disrupted studies a lame excuse to get more chances to appear for the highly competitive examination. The top court bench, also compising Justices Indu Malhotra and Ajay Rastogi, said that it is a policy decision of the government and judiciary cannot legislate.

    “Many exams have been conducted during Covid and if Supreme Court shows indulgence to a few, it will set a precedent which will have a cascading effect on the examinations in other streams,” the verdict read.The government had agreed to giving an extra chance at the examination to those whose final attempt was last year, but not the one-time relaxation on the age limit that the petition asked for.

    The petitioners wanted an extra chance saying they could not prepare well for last year’s exam due to disruptions in study during the pandemic. They also wanted age-barred candidates to be given another chance.

  • UPSC civil service​ exam: SC asks Centre to consider if one-time relaxation can be given on age limit

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday asked the Centre to consider granting one-time relaxation on age limit to UPSC civil service aspirants, including those who had exhausted their last attempt in 2020 exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic and would get one more chance this year provided they are otherwise not age barred.

    The Centre had on February 5 told the apex court that it was agreeable to give an extra chance as a one-time relaxation to those civil service aspirants, who had appeared in their last attempt in the 2020 exam and are otherwise not age-barred.

    It, however, had said that no relaxation shall be granted for 2021 exam to those candidates who have not exhausted their permissible number of attempts or to those who are otherwise age-barred from appearing in 2021 exam as per the prescribed age limits of different categories, or to any other candidate for any other reason whatsoever.

    During the hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, the counsel appearing for the petitioners told the court that there was ‘difficulty with regard to age bar’ condition as said by the Centre last week as it would affect aspirants especially those belonging to categories of persons with disability, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

    The bench observed that there was ‘extraordinary situation’ due to the pandemic and the authority should not be rigid.

    “We are not rigid. When this court suggested us, we gave the relaxation,” Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Centre, told the bench.

    The bench told Raju, “You can always argue that it is a matter of policy. The point is that is there a way out. They (petitioners) have concern that some may be over age by 10-15 days. They are seeking a one time relaxation on age bar”

    Raju told the bench that it may not be possible but he would consult the authorities and get back to the court.

    “This is an extraordinary situation and everyone knows about it. Some candidates were serving in essential services. Some may get undue benefit but there are genuine cases also,” the bench observed.

    The difficulty will be that other aspirants may also come and say that they be given one more chance, Raju said, adding that he can demonstrate with facts that there is nothing arbitrary.

    “Policies are made keeping in mind ground realities,” the bench observed, adding that around 2,200 aspirants would get benefit if age limit is relaxed as a one-time measure.

    When Raju said he would consult the concerned authorities on this, the bench said, “If you want it, you can get it done.”

    The ASG said that candidates who had their last attempt in 2020 had appeared in the exam and took their chance.

    At the outset, the counsel appearing for the petitioner raised the issue of age limit.

    The bench initially said it would not go into the aspect of age limit for the time being.

    “The point is if we do it in this examination, then same pattern may be followed in other examinations,” the bench observed and posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday.

    One of the lawyers appearing for the petitioner said that aspirants had faced tremendous difficulties during the pandemic and they are requesting for relaxation on age limit.

    On February 5, the Centre had filed a note in the apex court which said, “Relaxation, only to the extent of providing one extra attempt for Civil Service Examination (CSE), specifically limited to CSE-2021, may be granted to only those candidates who appeared for CSE-2020 as their last permissible attempt and are otherwise not age-barred from appearing in CSE-2021.”

    “This relaxation for the candidates and to the extent as prescribed above, shall be a one-time relaxation only and shall apply only for appearing in CSE-2021 and shall not be treated as a precedent,” it had said.

    “As per the suggestion of this court, the Union of India is agreeable for the following ex-gratia, one-time, restricted relaxation to be granted to the prospective candidates, subject to the same being part of a consent order, disposing off the petition,” the note had said.

    The bench is hearing a plea which had sought one more chance in the UPSC’s civil services exam to those aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt in 2020 due to the pandemic.

    On February 1, the Centre had told the top court that it cannot grant an extra chance to civil services aspirants who could not appear or prepare well for their last attempt in the UPSC civil service exam in 2020 due to the pandemic, while reiterating that it would amount to extending ‘differential treatment’ to similarly placed candidates.

    The Centre had earlier furnished a chart in the apex court giving details of relaxation given by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in civil services exams since its inception and had said that in 1979, 1992 and 2015 relaxations were given to the candidates due to change in patterns of examination.

    The top court on September 30 last year had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam because of the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

    However, it had directed the central government and the UPSC to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who have their last attempt in 2020, with corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.

  • Covid-19: Centre changes decision, gives civil service aspirants extra attempt

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Taking a U-turn, the Centre on Friday agreed to provide an extra attempt to the UPSC civil services examination candidates who had failed to appear in the October exams due to the Covid pandemic. 

    A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar had taken note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing on behalf of the DoPT.

    The court will hear the matter in details on Monday. It was hearing a plea by candidates who had appeared for their last attempt in the civil services (preliminary) examination, 2020 held on October 4.

    The Centre has clarified that relaxation, only to the extent of providing one extra attempt for Civil Service Examination (CSE), specifically limited to CSE 2021, may be granted to only those candidates who appeared for CSE-2020 as their last permissible attempt and are otherwise not age-barred from appearing in CSE 2021.

    Further, no relaxation shall be granted for CSE 2021 to those candidates who have not exhausted their permissible number of attempts or to those candidates who are otherwise age-barred from appearing in CSE 2021 as per the prescribed age limits of different categories, or to any other candidate for other reason whatsoever.

    “This relaxation for the candidates and to the extent as prescribed above, shall be a one-time relaxation only and shall apply only for appearing in CSE 2021 and shall not be treated as a precedent,” the Centre told the bench.

    The top court on September 30 last year had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam because of the pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

    However, it had directed the government and the UPSC to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who had their last attempt in 2020, with corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.

  • Applications sought for lateral entry-II by UPSC

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The UPSC has invited 30 applications for lateral entry into government services for four posts at joint secretary level and 13 posts at director-level. The commission has said that the move has been initiated as per the requisitions received  from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T).

    “Talented and motivated Indian nationals willing to contribute towards nation building are being invited to join the government at the level of Joint Secretary and at Director levels on contract basis,” said the UPSC on Friday.

    Earlier, in 2019, the government had appointed eight professionals as joint secretaries for a 5-year contract.

    The government is of the view that induction of specialists into the system will bring competition and improve work efficiency.

    Appointment at joint secretary level through lateral entry will be done in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance and  Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

    A total of 30 posts including 3 joint secretaries and 27 directors will be appointed in 13 ministries and departments including Commerce & Industry, Financial Services, Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Law & Justice, School Education & Literacy, Higher Education, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Health & Family Welfare, Road Transport & Highways, Jal Shakti, Civil Aviation and Skill Development. 

    UPSC said that interested candidates can apply from the February 6 to March 22 and candidates will be short-listed for interview on the basis of online information provided by them.

  • ‘Why UPSC candidates who missed last attempt can’t be given another chance’: SC asks Centre

    The top court on September 30 last year had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam, which was held on October 4, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • SC to hear plea for extra chance to aspirants who missed UPSC exam due to COVID-19 pandemic

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea seeking grant of one more chance to appear in the UPSC’s civil services examination to those aspirants who could not appear in their previous attempt last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

    The crucial hearing assumes significance in the wake of the Centre’s assertion last Friday that it was not in favour of granting one more opportunity to the civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt in 2020.

    A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar had taken note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing on behalf of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on January 22 and had asked the government to file an affidavit to this effect.

    “We are not ready to give one more chance. Give me the time to file an affidavit…yesterday night, I received instruction that we are not agreeable,” the law officer had told the bench.

    The bench, which also comprised Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murai, had asked the law officer to supply the copy of the affidavit to the counsel of civil services aspirant Rachna who had moved the court with the plea for grant of extra chance to crack the test.

    Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the bench that the government was considering the issue of granting one more opportunity to those civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt to crack the UPSC exam.

    The top court on September 30, last year, had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam, which was held on October 4, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

    However, it had directed the Central Government and the Union Public Service Commission to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who otherwise have their last attempt in 2020, with corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.

    The bench was then told that a formal decision can be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) only.

  • Not in favour of giving extra chance to UPSC aspirants who their missed last attempt: Centre to SC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre Friday told the Supreme Court that it was not in favour of granting one extra opportunity to those civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt in the exams conducted by the UPSC last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing on behalf of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

    “We are not ready to give one more chance. Give me the time to file an affidavit…last night I received instruction that we are not agreeable,” Raju told the bench, which also comprised justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murai.

    The bench has now posted the plea of a civil services aspirant Rachna Singh for hearing on January 25 and asked the Centre to file an affidavit during the period and serve it to the parties.

    Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the bench that the government was considering the issue of granting one more opportunity to those civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt to crack the UPSC exam.

    The top court, on September 30 last year, had refused to postpone the UPSC civil services preliminary exam, which was held on October 4, because of COVID-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of the country.

    However, it had directed the central government and the Union Public Service Commission to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who otherwise have their last attempt in 2020, with corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.

    The bench was then told that a formal decision can be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) only.

  • Delhi HC seeks Centre’s stand on selection of candidates for civil services mains, interview

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that selecting candidates for All India Civil Services mains exam and subsequent interview without declaring the actual number of vacancies, particularly for the disabled category, amounts to “arbitrariness” and asked it to explain how it was deciding who qualifies for the mains and interview.

    “When your vacancies are fluctuating, how many people will you call for the mains and interview? If you have power to call any number of candidates for mains and interviews without declaring the actual vacancies, it is known as arbitrariness,” a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh told the Centre and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which conducts the civil services exam.

    The bench also asked them to explain how there was a difference of eight in the vacancies for disabled calculated by the petitioner organisation, Sambhavna, and the number advertised in the exam notification.

    According to Sambhavna the number should be 32, whereas the exam notice indicates a figure of 24 vacancies for disabled category.

    “You have to explain these two aspects,” the court said to the Centre and UPSC and listed the matter for hearing on January 29.

    The court was hearing two PILs by two different organisations — Sambhavna and Evara Foundation — which have challenged the civil services exam notification on the ground that only approximate vacancies for the disabled are mentioned and not the four per cent mandatory reservation mandated under the law.

       During the hearing, they urged the bench to stay the mains exam which is scheduled to commence from January 8 and would end on January 17 or direct the Centre to hold exams for the disabled persons later if the two petitions were allowed.

    The court, however, refused to pass any interim directions and said that if the petitioners were successful, the reliefs would be moulded accordingly at that stage.

    On the last date of hearing in September 2020, the court had termed as “absurd” the UPSC’s argument that while the number of vacancies in the All India Civil Services may vary before the final selection of candidates, the number of seats for the disabled would remain fixed.

    “You cannot say the number of reservations is fixed, but the number of vacancies might vary.

    What is this absurd argument? Either both are frozen or neither are frozen,” the court had said.

    The petition by Sambhavna, filed through advocates Krishan Mahajan and Ajay Chopra, has contended that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act of 2016 mandates that every government establishment shall reserve 4 per cent of its total vacancies for those with benchmark disabilities.

    However, the UPSC exam notice only mentions “expected approximate vacancies” — a category that does not exist under the law, it has said.

    “The notice becomes a fraud on the Act since it gives four per cent reservation of 796 expected approximate vacancies.

    To reserve something of that which does not legally exist is to legally give nothing,” the petition has contended.

    The NGO further claims that there is a mathematical error in calculating the four per cent reservation in the expected vacancies numbering 796.

    It has said that four per cent reservation of 796 would come to 31.

    8 or 32 vacancies, whereas according to the notice the number is 24.

    The petition further claims that even the subsequent distribution of the vacancies at the rate of one per cent per category of disability — deaf, blind, locomotor and multiple disabilities — is also not mathematically accurate.

    It also said that even the backlog of vacancies have not been mentioned.

     

  • UPSC Civil Services will get an incentive of Rs 1 lakh on passing the preliminary examination

    There is a provision to give incentive money to the candidates of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the successful state in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination of the Union Public Service Commission. Applications are invited from eligible candidates by 31 December 2020. Assistant Commissioner for Tribal Development, Smt Maneka Chandrakar said that the objective of the scheme run by the Tribal and Scheduled Castes Development Department is to encourage candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for the examination of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). There is a provision of one lakh rupees incentive by the department for success in UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Officials of Tribal Development Department said that the eligibility and conditions and the format of application can be downloaded from the website www.tribble dot cg dot gov.in. Interested and eligible candidates can get detailed information in this regard from Commissioner Primitive and Scheduled Caste Development Block-4, Ground Floor, Indravati Bhawan Nava Raipur.

  • DU professor writes letter to UPSC President on complex Hindi translation of questions in Civil Services Examination

    In the recently concluded Civil Services Pre Examination-2020, Niranjan Kumar, Professor and Director of “Pragyanam Indica” Institute in the Hindi Department of DU (DU) on incorrect and unintelligible translation into Hindi UPSC President) has sought a solution to various translation related problems. It may be noted that in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination held this year, Hindi translation of “Civil Disobedience Movement” of English was given in General Studies Paper-1 “Non-Cooperation Movement”.

    Similarly, the language of translation was so clear that the examinees had a lot of difficulty in understanding it. Various problems related to translation are constantly being seen in other examinations, in which Hindi medium students preparing for various competitive examinations are constantly demanding improvement.

    Professor Niranjan Kumar said, “The words prevalent and comprehensible in the examinations should be selected so that the examinee does not have to struggle unnecessarily at the language level. If there are problems with the translation, then the candidate may face a problem, which is in a way unfair to him, contrary to the purpose of the examination. I have informed the UPSC President in this context and asked for reforms so that Hindi medium students can get equal opportunity. All the candidates are hopeful that such a recurrence will not happen in future. ”