UPSC aspirants who missed out on last attempt amid Covid to get extra chance

The Centre has also made it clear that age-barred candidates shall be allowed to sit for the examination.

The Centre has told the apex court that it is willing to give an extra chance at a final attempt to candidates of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) who exhausted their last attempt after appearing in the preliminary examination conducted on October 4 last year.

The petitioners had demanded an extra chance claiming that they were serving as frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic which did not give them adequate time to prepare for the exam. (Sushil Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

The Centre has filed a note before the Supreme Court through additional solicitor general SV Raju stating that the relaxation is going to be a one-time measure and will be restricted to those who exhausted their last attempt by appearing in the October 2020 exam. The Centre has also made it clear that age-barred candidates shall be allowed to sit for the examination.

The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari posted the matter for hearing on Monday and has asked the Centre to circulate the note to all lawyers appearing for the 100-odd candidates who were demanding another shot at the examination.

The petitioners had demanded an extra chance claiming that they were serving as frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic which did not give them adequate time to prepare for the exam. Few petitioners also claimed that they belonged to far-flung areas and due to lack of proper internet connectivity they were unable to access online study material.

The Union Public Service Commission which conducts Civil Services Examination every year allows candidates belonging to the general category six attempts up to the age of 32, nine attempts for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes category up to age of 35 and candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste category and Scheduled Tribes category can avail unlimited attempts up to the age of 37.

The Centre had earlier denied to allow aspiring candidates an extra chance for appearing for the examinations. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the Supreme Court that Centre was reexamining the matter when the matter was listed previously.