Candidates who missed their last attempt in the UPSC Civil Services Examination last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic will get another chance.
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court about this decision after a plea submitted by Rachna Singh, a civil services aspirant.
She had asked for an extra attempt for those candidates who had their last attempt for the preliminary exam held in October 2020, but had missed it due to the pandemic. and the attendant lockdowns.
The last Civil Services preliminary exam was held on October 4, 2020. The exam was originally scheduled to be conducted in May 2020 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
In September 2020, the apex court had directed the Central Government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to consider giving an extra chance to candidates who had their last attempt in 2020, considering the age-limit factor.
But the court was informed that the issue regarding granting extra attempt for last-chance candidates was under the consideration of the authorities.
On January 22, the Centre responded that it was not in favour of giving another chance to those aspirants having their last chance.
The UPSC Civil Services (Main) exam for 2020 has already been conducted from January 8 to 17, 2021. Over 10,000 candidates were shortlisted for the main exam on the basis of the marks obtained in the prelims exam.
The notification of Civil Services Exam 2021 is scheduled to be released on February 10.