UPSC civil services prelims 2020 postponed, new date to be announced on May 20
The Union Public Service Commission has taken a decision to postpone the civil services preliminary exam that was scheduled to be held on May 31, Hindustan Times has learnt.
The Union Public Service Commission has taken a decision to postpone the civil services preliminary exam “until further notice”. The exam was scheduled to be held on on May 31.
The Union Public Services Commission building, New Delhi (Agencies)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
According to officials in the UPSC, a call will be on the new date after “assessment” by May 20. A meeting of the Commission, chaired by Arvind Saxena, was held on Monday to take the call to defer the exam with senior UPSC officials. The decision comes after the Central government extended the lockdown for two weeks starting May 4.
“UPSC has done what needed to be done,” said an official privy to the developments. “In the current scenario where Covid-19 is spreading, it is not feasible to hold such a large scale exam.”
The Commission, the official added, has not taken a call on a fresh date for the prelims. “The date will be decided in due course of time after evaluating the situation,” the official added.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
“The decision has been taken keeping mind the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown restrictions,” a second UPSC official told Hindustan Times. “A fresh date will be announced after May 20.”
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
“The decision has been taken keeping mind the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown restrictions,” a second UPSC official told Hindustan Times. “A fresh date will be announced after May 20.”
{{/usCountry}}
“From inaccessibility of exam venues during lockdown as schools had been turned into quarantine centres, to ensuring students had enough time to book tickets to reach the centres, the UPSC had to address a host to issues to be able to hold the exam on May 31, it would have been very difficult ,” said the second official.
The Commission was due to release admit cards for the students this week, but has decided to defer the process in view current crisis.
Nearly 10 lakh people register for the civil services preliminary examination every year. Nearly 1.6 lakh functionaries participate in conducting the exam across 2,500 centres.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Many other premier exams, such as the Haryana Civil Services, which was slated to be held from June 5, have also been postponed.
Former UPSC chairman Vijay Singh told Hindustan Times that the decision may delay the recruitment process a little but it is not worrisome.
“We have to keep in mind not everything else has been postponed as well,” said Singh. “The preliminary exam is huge exercise carried out in a number of centres. The logistics are vast and expansive with people involved across the country. UPSC can’t afford for anything to go wrong, it has to maintain its reputation and the exam has to be conducted in a way that no doubts are raised about it.”
“All that may happen is that the recruitment process may be a little delayed but that’s not a real big deal,” he added.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
But the lack of clarity in a new date brings a new set of anxieties for aspirants who believe that the preparation time for the main examination may be reduced.
“The uncertainity is worrisome, but at the same time but am hoping for positives since it will give aspirants more time to study,” said UPSC aspirant Snigdha Talapatra, 25, who will be writing her second attempt. “It’s probably going to happen in August or September. I sincerely hope we will not be given lesser time to prepare for Mains. Studying for prelims also entails studying for Mains for most us though.”
“The situation is so dire that the decision to postpone the exam was inevitable,” she added.
For over a decade, the Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk has been a trusted source for accurate, in-depth, and timely news on education and careers. We bring the latest updates on board exams, competitive exams, results, employment news, study abroad, scholarships, and school and college admissions, helping students, job seekers, and educators make informed decisions. Our Coverage Areas 1. Board Exams & Results: Comprehensive reporting on CBSE, CISCE, and state board exams (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and others), including schedules, admit cards, answer keys, results, and career opportunities. 2. Competitive Exams: Insights into major exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, GATE, CAT, SAT, and state and central government services. Exam Results: Timely updates on UPSC, SSC, SBI, IBPS, NTA, IIMs, and other competitive exam results. 3. Employment News: Notifications on government and private sector jobs, vacancies, eligibility, application processes, and results. 4. Study Abroad: Information on top universities, courses, tuition fees, scholarships, visa regulations, and career prospects for international students. Features & Analysis: Opinion pieces, expert explainers, deep-dive reports, and interviews with key figures in education. 5. Breaking Education News: Real-time updates on major policy changes, institutional reforms, and trends shaping the education sector. 6. With a commitment to factual, unbiased journalism, HT Digital’s Education Desk has seen continuous growth in readership, offering credible and engaging content tailored for students, parents, and professionals. Meet the Team 1. Nilesh Mathur – News Editor A journalist with 24 years of experience, including 18+ years at Hindustan Times, Nilesh leads editorial planning, ensures factual accuracy, and enhances audience engagement through strategic content. 2. Papri Chanda – Deputy Chief Content Producer With over a decade of experience in education journalism, Papri specializes in exam-related content, study abroad insights, and education trends. She also explores new opportunities in education that benefit students. 3. Bishal – Senior Content Producer Active in the education and jobs sector since 2019, Bishal focuses on tracking developments, analyzing trends, and crafting informative content for students and job aspirants. 4. Gaurav Sarma – Deputy Chief Content Producer A multimedia journalist with 9+ years of experience, Gaurav is skilled in research-based storytelling, feature writing, and reporting on competitive exams, online courses, and education trends. At Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk, we strive to be the go-to platform for students and professionals navigating the dynamic world of education and careers.
Stay informed with the latest updates on Education News also check NEET PG Result 2026 and Find tips to help you succeed in your academic journey and career planning on Hindustan Times.
Stay informed with the latest updates on Education News also check NEET PG Result 2026 and Find tips to help you succeed in your academic journey and career planning on Hindustan Times.
