UPSC 2021: Supreme Court Not In Favour Of Giving Another Chance To Aspirants

On Friday, The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it will not give an extra chance to students who missed their UPSC civil examination attempt in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Solicitor General SV Raju told the court on behalf of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) that they are not ready to give another chance to aspirants who missed their last attempt. SV Raju additionally mentioned that he received instructions last night that were against the decision of granting another chance. 

Presently, the Supreme Court is hearing a petition by a UPSC aspirant identified as Rachna Singh who is seeking an extra attempt for aspirants who missed their preliminary exam held in October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that the government was considering giving another chance to civil aspirants who missed their last attempt at cracking the UPSC examinations. Additionally, the top court had proposed a corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.

Earlier in 2020, the top court had denied permission to delay the UPSC preliminary exam, due to the pandemic restrictions and floods in several parts of the country. However, it has directed the Central government as well as the Union Public Service Commission to revise the decision and grant an additional attempt to affected students.

The bench is awaiting a formal decision by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).