UPSC aspirants who took exams in last 3 years won't get any additional chance

New Delhi: The UPSC aspirants who took the civil services examination in the last three years (2012-14) need not be given an additional chance this year, the Centre has decided.

The move comes following a directive by Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to examine whether candidates who were eligible to take civil services examination 2011, or had taken 2012, 2013 or 2014 examination should be given another chance to take this year's test with changed pattern.

"After analysing all facts, it has been decided that these candidates do not deserve to be given additional chance to appear in civil services examination", an order issued by DoPT said.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious examination annually to select IAS, IFS and IPS officers, among others, in three stages--preliminary (having two papers), main and interview.

It had in 2011 modified the structure of preliminary examination and substituted the paper on optional subject (Paper II) by introducing a new paper viz General Studies Paper II on aptitude test.

Since there was a change in the format, many candidates appearing for civil services exam 2011 alleged that they did not have adequate time to prepare and opposed the new pattern.

The government had in August last year given an assurance in Parliament regarding an additional attempt to the 2011 candidates, this year. Following which an order was issued by the DoPT.

Aggrieved over the decision, an application was filed in the CAT seeking its direction for the government to allow an additional attempt this year to those candidates who did not appear in 2011 exam but appeared in tests of subsequent years or for those who had applied for the test in 2011.

The CAT had disposed off the petition with the direction to the DoPT to take a decision on it within four weeks of receiving copy of the order.

After considering the matter, it has been decided that the candidates who had taken attempts in civil services examinations in 2012, 2013 and 2014 had got sufficient time to prepare and acclimatise themselves with the new pattern of General Studies Paper II (aptitude test) introduced in 2011.

Moreover, such candidates got the benefit of relaxation in terms of age and attempts in 2014, the DoPT said and decided against giving additional chance this year for those candidates.

The government had last year made amendments in the eligibility conditions which resulted in relaxed age criteria and increased number of attempts.