S. Vishnu Sharma
UPSC CS 2020, popularly known as UPSC Civil Services Exam is also becoming a focus point now. The big talk is whether the prelims exam of UPSC CS 2020 will be conducted on some other date or not? The reason behind people pondering over the postponement of UPSC CS 2020 in the current corona virus outbreak is quite natural.
Affairs in various sectors came to a halt recently when India entered into a lock down period to put a halt to COVID-19. Host of popular exams were postponed, NEET UG 2020, JEE Mains 2020, CBSE 12th and 10th standard exams were among them.
UPSC CS 2020
Added to this, personality test with regards to UPSC CS 2019 was postponed keeping in view corona virus outbreak. All these could have triggered the feeling among the people that even prelims of UPSC CS 2020 could also be postponed.
However, nothing can be said as of now with regards to the postponement of UPSC CS 2020. The current lock down is coming to end on 3 May, exam for UPSC CS 2020 is to be conducted on 31 May which is the actual planned date.
As things are likely to settle by that time, chances are little for the popular exam to be conducted on some other date, says S.K. Suresh Kumar, who teaches Indian History at a civil services coaching institute. ‘The exam date, 31 May is quite far off as of now, so I dont see any chances for postponement.
However, there are people who take a different point of view. One can’t say anything as of now with regards to UPSC CS 2020, says K.Ramanathan, a senior academician who teaches Political Science to civil service aspirants.
Annual exams and semester exams of universities, colleges, recruitment exams have all been postponed. After the lock downs ends, the big challenge would be to conduct these exams in a way that they donot clash with each other.
Dates of many of these exams could be revised to ensure they do not clash with each other, in that process, there may be a chance of UPSC CS 2020 date of exam for prelims undergoing a change, says Ramanathan.
Foreseeing the change of date for UPSC CS 2020 is Mohan Ram, a civil services aspirant. It all depends on the COVID-19 situation. If things improve by 3 May, there would be no problem. Corona cases may still exist in certain cities, if they are put under quarantine, possibilities of conducting UPSC CS 2020 on the earlier fixed date are less.
Let us not forget that conducting an exam like UPSC CS 2020 is allowing people to gather in large numbers, which again leave little possibility for social distancing, a point which is considered a neccessity to stop corona virus from spreading, says Vamsi Krishna, another civil services aspirant.
There is possibility of the popular exam being postponed. He too like many others is skeptical. It all depends on how intensive the risk due to corona virus is, he says.
It is interesting to note that even veteran Congress leader Sashi Tharoor is said to have sought clarification regarding UPSC civil services exam on his twitter handle.
Also read Application submission date extended for MTech admission in IIT Hyderabad
Meanwhile UPSC in its notification has mentioned that a decision on fresh dates for the remaining Civil
Services-2019 Personality Tests will be taken after 3 May, following the second phase of the lockdown.
Dates for the Civil Services-2020-Prelim (UPSC CS 2020), Engineering Services (Main) and the Geologist Services (Main) Examinations had already been announced. Any rescheduling in these examinations, if necessitated by the evolving situation, will be notified on the website of the UPSC.
The UPSC further reminds that Deferment notices have already been posted for the Combined Medical Services Examination, the Indian Economic Service and the Indian Statistical Service Examination 2020.
Dates for the CAPF Exam 2020 will also be notified on the UPSC website. The National Defence Academy (NDA-I) Examination has already been postponed till further intimation.
A decision on the NDA –II Examination will be posted on June 10, 2020 the scheduled date for its notification. Any other decision of the Commission in respect of all the Examinations, Interviews and Recruitment Boards will be promptly made available on the Commission’s website. The website of UPSC is ‘https://www.upsc.gov.in/’
The notification with regard to postponement of UPSC exams can be accessed by clicking the highlighted portion.
UPSC also said that it had reviewed the harm caused to the national economy by the corona virus pandemic. Recognizing the need to conserve financial resources at the national level, the Chairman and Members of the Union Public Service Commission have decided to voluntarily forego 30% of the basic pay received by them from the Commission for a period of one year, with effect from April, 2020.
In addition, all officers and staff members of the UPSC have volunteered one day salary to the PM Relief Fund/PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation Fund (PM CARES Fund).