As political parties continue to hit out at the government for making marks in English count in the Civil Services Examination, there is evidence that the new rule might protect students not well versed in English rather than harm their prospects.

DMK said the changes would affect rural aspirants. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said adding marks obtained in English to the final score would affect prospects of rural and tribal aspirants.

The previous exam pattern required candidates — who cleared the preliminary exams — to qualify in two papers at the CSE (Mains) exam: a regional language and English paper.

In its new form, it requires candidates to take a compulsory English mini-paper of 100 marks. Marks obtained in this paper would be counted.

“But 100 marks — of a total 2075 marks — means the class X- level comprehension and Précis English paper would just have a weightage of just 4.8%,” a government official told HT.

Besides, the change ensures that candidates who do not perform well in the English paper are not outightly disqualified.

The UPSC had failed 819 candidates at the Mains in 2010 because they did not get the minimum prescribed marks in English.

In 2011, UPSC had similarly failed 351 candidates. Still worse, they were not even told how much candidates need to score in the qualifying papers.