UPSC Prelims 2020: Know Supreme Court’s final decision on plea seeking for postponement of civil services exam

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct its preliminary examination for civil services on October 4, 2020. The decision comes after the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas seeking postponement of UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2020, today.

Earlier, a plea was filed in the apex court to postpone the IAS preliminary examination due to skyrocketing coronavirus cases across the country.

However, SC has given some SOPs that must be followed in various public exams conducted recently and denied any special requests.

The apex court, however, asked the Centre to consider concessions for those aspirants who are on their last attempt.

According to a report in The Times of India, UPSC may issue directions to States to ensure that candidates with admit cards will be admitted in local hotels near sub-centers, directs SC in its order.

During the proceeding, UPSC has mentioned that over Rs 50 crore at stake if the exam deferred. Also, an affidavit filed by the Commission read that any further delay in conducting the Civil Services (preliminary) examination 2020 would result in a huge loss to the public exchequer.

According to the Hindustan Times report, the affidavit filed by UPSC also pointed out that the Civil Services (Main) Examination as well as the second stage of other recruitment examinations, including interviews, are to be held this year.

The examination date for the UPSC CSE 2021 has also been fixed for June 27, 2021.

On the other hand, the petitioners raised the issue that due to the lack of transport facilities UPSC aspirants won’t be able to attend the exam.

Supreme Court wasn’t convinced with the transportation reasoning either as it is not the big issue in every city.

The petitioners have also cited the examples of many states like – Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, etc, have postponed their Public Service as well as Judicial Services Exams due to the pandemic.

After hearing both versions, a bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar announced that the UPSC exam will be held on October 4.

According to reports, over 1.058 million UPSC aspirants have applied for the exam and out of the total, 0.687 million candidates have downloaded the e-admit card. UPSC Civil Services prelims exam will be held at 2,569 venues across 72 exam centres. In the wake of COVID-19, all the preparatory measures have been taken.

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