Protests Demand Extra Attempt At Civil Service Exams: What The Row Is About

Civil services aspirants and other activists have assembled at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, to protest for a UPSC extra attempt in the wake of obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those seeking to appear for the exams are calling for either an age relaxation or an increase in the number of attempts allowed per candidate.

SheThePeople spoke to activist Yogita Bhayana, who was one among a group of six people that approached the Home Minister's residence in the capital Wednesday to propose the demands, following which they were detained and later released. She said the aspirants who were allegedly scheduled to meet HM Amit Shah on an appointment wanted to raise the matter of exam-takers not being able to perform at full potential owing to the pandemic and a digital divide. Read here. 

Presently, the age limit for civil services exams is fixed at 32 and attempts, at six. The exams are conducted in three levels, which are prelims, mains and interviews.

UPSC Extra Attempt Protest: Why Are Aspirants Agitating?

1. Starting Sunday, November 29, several Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) aspirants reached Jantar Mantar and said they would sit on an indefinite hunger strike until such time that their demands for extra exam attempts were met.

2. The coronavirus pandemic for India in 2021 was especially brutal, with the second wave in April-May claiming over two lakh lives. The consecutive lockdowns too affected education, with learning switching to online modes for those who could afford it. Aspirants on strike in Delhi have brought these issues to the fore.

3. The Supreme Court too took cognisance of these demands earlier this year in July, when it urged the government to take a "lenient" stance on the extra attempt plea after petitions were filed in court. Petitioners had then brought to the court's notice the "lack of proper infrastructure, poor preparation, lack of study materials" and the consequent ramifications of COVID-19 on aspirants' mental health, reported The Hindu.

4. For several candidates who gave the UPSC exams last year, it was their final attempt. The apex court had, in 2020 too, asked the government to consider granting one extra chance to aspirants affected by the pandemic, but the government had responded saying it was not in favour of this proposal.

Trending now: