No extra attempt, age-relaxation for UPSC CSE candidates: Government

NEW DELHI: No extra attempt will be given to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) candidates in Civil Services Examination (CSE), the Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and in Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

Responding to a query whether the Government is considering to give extra attempts or age relaxation for SSC and UPSC examinations to frontline workers like doctors and police constables during the pandemic, the MoS said, “However, since the recruitment cycle of the Staff Selection Commission was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, for the examinations being advertised in the year 2022, SSC has decided to fix a crucial date for determining age as on 01.01.2022. In the normal course, the crucial date for determining age for these examinations would have been 01.08.2022 or 01.01.2023, depending on the schedule of conduct of Tier-II Examinations.”

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The Minister told the lower house of the Parliament that the issue of granting age relaxation and extra attempt to UPSC CSE candidates, due to COVID-19 pandemic was brought before the Supreme Court through writ petitions by CSE aspirants. Based on the judgments passed by the top court, the matter was 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 exam.

Earlier in March, the apex court had recommended the government to change its mind and sympathetically consider the demand of civil services examination (CSE) aspirants and grant an extra attempt with corresponding age relaxation to all candidates.

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The Centre had earlier too told the top court that an additional attempt in the UPSC CSE exam is “not possible”.

The petitioners, in their plea, had said that they tested positive for COVID-19 in the RTPCR test reports dated January 13, 14 and January 6. The plea had said the petitioners could not take the UPSC mains examination after testing positive for COVID-19 and owing to the restrictions imposed under the strict quarantine guidelines of the government.