LOK SABHA
AGE RELAXATION TO UPSC ASPIRANTS
4433. DR. T.R.PAARIVENDHAR
SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL
SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA
SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any request/proposal from the UPSC aspirants particularly for IAS and IPS aspirants to grant Age and Attempt relaxation in examination and if so, the details thereof along with the details of action taken or porposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
(b) whether the Government proposes to give relaxation of two years due to Covid-19 to the candidates preparing for competitive examinations, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether those candidates who were deprived of appearing in the examinations due to Covid-19 would be given another chance and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government is considering to issue answer key in 10-15 days, result in a fixed timeframe and send the copies of main examination on the e-mails individually to the candidates on time for their information, if so, the details thereof including the guidelines and if not, the reasons therefor?
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (c): Representations have been received from the Civil Services Examination (CSE) aspirants regarding grant of age relaxation and extra attempt to the candidates in CSE due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This issue had also been brought before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide Writ Petitions filed by the CSE aspirants. Based on the judgements passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court, the matter has been considered and it has not been found feasible to change the existing provisions regarding number of attempts and age-limit in respect of the Civil Services Examination.
(d): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed that in respect of Objective type Examination [such as CS(Pre) Examination], the answer keys are declared only after the entire process of the Exam for the respective year is completed i.e. after the declaration of the final result of the Examination and the same is kept at the Commission’s website for a period of one month in active window and for further period of one month in archive. The UPSC has also informed that it publishes the results in reasonable timeframe in pursuit of adherence to its Annual Calendar of Examinations which is notified well in advance. The UPSC has further informed that the disclosure of answer sheets is exempted vide Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgement dated 20.02.2018 in CA Nos. 6159-6162 of 2013 and 5924/2013.
