UPSC Civil Services Exam: Supreme Court Asks Two Questions In UPSC Extra Chance Case

New Delhi, January 29, 2021: The Supreme Court today questioned the Central Government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on why the UPSC Civil Services Examination candidates affected by the Covid-19 epidemic cannot be given an additional opportunity.

The apex court said that the demand is for a one-time concession. If it has been done before then why can’t it be done this time? Earlier on Thursday, the court had expressed displeasure over the affidavit of the central government and asked at what level the decision was taken regarding not giving additional chance to the candidates of UPSC. The court had rebuked that there was nothing in the affidavit. It is not clear at what level this decision has been taken. The center was then directed to file an affidavit within 24 hours.

Today, when the petition seeking additional opportunities in the Civil Services Examination was heard again, a bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked ASV SV Raju to answer two questions – first – if just this one time additional opportunity was given, how many candidates will benefit from it? And second, how many times such exemptions have been given since UPSC was formed?

The bench said that no extension in the age limit is being requested. The petition requests for an additional opportunity for just one time. On 1 February, the next hearing of the case will be held.

On October 4, 2020, more than 100 of the candidates who appeared for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination were those that were giving their last attempt. These candidates have petitioned the Supreme Court seeking an additional one-time exemption in the 2021 Civil Services Examination as a one-time exemption. The petition stated that their preparations for the preliminary examination to be held on October 4, 2020, were affected by the Corona virus epidemic. Some of the candidates have said that due to the duty attached to Covid-19, they could not get enough preparation time. While some say that they could not get online study material due to poor internet facilities in remote areas.

The Supreme Court had on 30 September last year refused to postpone the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination due to the Covid-19 epidemic and flooding in many parts of the country, which was then held on October 4. However, it had directed the Central Government and the Union Public Service Commission to consider giving candidates an additional chance, which gave the last attempt in 2020. The bench was then informed that only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) can take a formal decision on the matter.