You are aware of the fact that ever since the Civil Services Aptitude Test (C-Sat) has been introduced in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination in 2011, the representation of rural and regional languages media have been plummeted. It was not because of standard of examination or inability of candidates but because of English language. The English language of the question paper is terse and passages are lengthy, sequel to it many candidates writing in regional languages could not answer properly. However, Hindi medium candidates are being benefited because the question paper is in English and Hindi languages. Article 16 of the Indian Constitution envisages equality of opportunity in matter of public employment but the U.P.S.C. has been ignoring it.
It is a common knowledge that before the Kothari Commission Report came into vogue in 1979, the IAS exam was in favour of urban candidates especially educated in English medium. That is why before 1979, many senior civil servants’ children could not get into civil services with aplomb. However, this scenario had reversed when the U.P.S.C. allowed the candidates to write in the regional languages.
This was not digested by the higher-ups. In a bid to contain the entry of rural candidates into Civil Services, the so called reforms in the pattern of examination have been incorporated. In the preliminary examination, the U.P.S.C. did away with optional subject and introduced Aptitude Test with much fanfare. The ostensible goal is to select competent candidates with high moral rectitude but its real aim is to balk rural candidates’ entry into the IAS and other services. The English used in the question paper is very difficult even to the Englsih medium graduates, let alone to regional languages candidates.
Presently, the question papers of preliminary and main examination are in English and Hindi versions. Hindi version facilitates the candidates who have Hindi as their mother tongue. Those candidates can read the lengthy passages and answer them with ease. The examination is a doddle for them. For all intents and purposes the present system is in favour of English and Hindi media students and they are on the level pegging. It is not out of place to mention that having capitulated to the sustained pressure from Hindi belt political parties on the C-SAT, the Government of India announced that marks for English language comprehension question paper – II of Preliminary examination would not be counted for gradation and merit. That being the nature, why does the UPSC impose the English language on non-Hindi speaking candidates? It is discriminatory and against natural justice.
If the UPSC is keen to test the administrative aptitude of the candidates, it should administer psychological tests to the candidates who have qualified in the Civil services Main examination before viva-voce – personality test. It is not a new thing to the UPSC as it has been following in the recruitment of Defence services. The UPSC conducts written examination of NDA and Combined Defence Services and recommends qualified candidates to the Ministry of Defence for the conduct of psychological tests and interview for the final selection. The same analogy may please be followed in the selection of Civil Services candidates.
Hence, the Voice of Telangana earnestly urges the UPSC to give question papers in all languages enshrined in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and a beginning should be made from the ensuing Civil Services Main Examination, 2014. It is our fundamental right to have information in the languages enshrined in the Eight Schedule (Art. 345). If the UPSC does not accede to our request, the Voice of Telangana is under constraint to move the Hon’ble Court for the redressal of grievances.