UPSC introduces a new aptitude test paper in its preliminary examination

Updated on: Thursday, August 23, 2012

The UPSC told the Delhi High Court that for its Civil Services preliminary examination, it has introduced a new aptitude test paper with a section in it to test the candidates' ability to understand English.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) told a division bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Shakdher that it has taken the step on the basis of its expert panel recommendation, following which the bench sought the panel's report by September 19.

The court gave the direction while hearing a petition which has questioned the UPSC's decision to introduce in Civil Services (Prel) examination a new compulsory paper, part of which is to test candidates' ability to understand English.

The petition has termed the UPSC move as "discriminatory". In its reply to the petition, the UPSC, through its counsel Naresh Kaushik, said, "The new format of Civil Service (Prel) Examination is evolved through a process of intense review of the examination system by an Expert Committee and the new system has been approved by the government."

The commission also sought dismissal of the petition saying "the scope of judicial review in cases where a policy decision is taken pursuant to the recommendations of an expert committee is limited." Petitioner Dina Nath Batra, in his plea, has argued that the new test paper deprived a majority of Indian citizens, having Hindi or other languages as the language of instruction during their education, of a level playing field in the competition.

Petitioner Batra said civil services aspirants till 2010 were required to answer two objective type question papers - one for general knowledge and the other on a subject of their choice, in the annual preliminary examination. The UPSC, however, introduced the new Aptitude Test paper worth 200 marks in 2011 containing an English Language Comprehension Skill section worth 22.50 marks, to be answered compulsorily by all candidates, he added.

He alleged that the new question paper on English was "discriminatory" as it denied "equal competing platform" to the aspirants who had studied in Hindi medium or other Indian languages. "Hindi is the basis of Indian culture and making English compulsory will strike a body blow to wipe off Indias rich cultural heritage from its roots. Hindi and other classical languages have to be given their rightful place in the educational system and in civil services," the petition said.

The petitioner also contended that the central government had not consulted various official committees on language, while implementing the new pattern.

UPSC introduces a new aptitude test paper in its preliminary examination

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