Supreme Court has decided to dismiss the petition filed to postpone UPSC Civil Services 2020 prelims examination. The IAS 2020 examination will take place as per its schedule that is on October 04, 2020. With that UPSC Indian Forest Services 2020 prelims examination will also be conducted as per the schedule. Know what all happened in UPSC civil services exam supreme court hearing below.
Total 20 candidates filed a petition to postpone the examination of UPSC civil services prelims exam and UPSC IFS 2020. This was done to avoid the examination to take place amidst global pandemic COVID-19. Albeit, the plea is now cancelled by Supreme Court of India.
The most important decision during this hearing was the discussion on age limit and number of attempts. For UPSC Exam Supreme Court has pointed out that normal circumstances cannot be compared with pandemic times. SC has asked UPSC to make provisions for the age limit and last attempts.
Several arguments were presented by Adv. Anushree Kapadia who was speaking for the petitioners. Major issues such as travelling, staying in case the exam centre is far off were also raised in the argument. Advocate has also added that candidates who appear for the UPSC exam are from different strata and many live in a place where the train services are not yet restarted. In addition, Adv. Anushree Kapadia has mentioned that UPSC has added anything new to the recruitment including the number of centres for the exam. How UPSC will conduct the exam in the same number of exam centre acknowledging the social distancing norms.
As a counter argument, Bench has added that unlock process in major cities has started. Adv Naresh Kaushik, speaking for UPSC, has replied that UPSC has sent Chief Secretaries of State to ensure easy travel services on October 03, 2020 and October 04, 2020. Railways Chairman has also been asked to do the same. Also, SC has noted that UPSC civil services exam admit card is permissible to book a room to local hotels near the exam centres. UPSC is asked to make the arrangements of the same. The apex court has directed UPSC to publish SOPs for examination.
Many suggestions such as merging UPSC Civil Service 2020 and UPSC Civil Service 2021 were presented. However, SC finds that merging the two examinations will make a major impact on the exam system. It will impact UPSC 2021 Prelims examination that is scheduled for June 27, 2021.
Moreover, SC has also allowed COVID-19 patients to appear for the UPSC Civil Service examination. Supreme Court has directed the Union Public Service Commission to make special arrangements for such candidates. COVID-19 patients will also get to appear for the UPSC IAS and UPSC IFS exam. Special seating arrangements will be made for such candidates.
