The Indian Government has told the Supreme Court it has decided after all to give an extra chance to candidates who had their last attempt at the national Public Service examination in 2020 but who could not appear because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This resolves a case in which the court was hearing a plea by Rachna Singh, seeking an extra attempt in the examinations for those candidates who had their last shot at the prestigious test in October 2020.
It also reverses a pervious decision by the Government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which runs the examination, that there should be no second chance.
According to the data shared by the Government, as many as 486,952 candidates had appeared for the preliminary examination at that time.
After the exam was held, many candidates came together to file a petition in the top court seeking an extra attempt in 2021.
They argued that due to the pandemic, a lot of students could not give their best or could not appear at all.
The UPSC has announced that notifications for the 2021 examination will be released this month.
Meanwhile, a group of former Public Servants has written an open letter deploring the Government’s approach towards the farmers’ protest against new agriculture laws.
The letter, signed by 75 former officials, described the Government’s attitude as adversarial and a confrontationist.
It said the farmers were being treated like “an irresponsible opposition to be derided, demonised and defeated”.
“Such an approach can never lead to a solution,” the letter stated.
New Delhi, 6 February, 2021
