Rahul Gandhi stamp in another snap decision: UPSC aspirants to get 2 more attempts, age relaxation

Gandhi with UPSC aspirants (Courtesy: NSUI)

IN A clear sign of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s hand, the Central government in a surprise move on Monday approved two additional attempts for aspirants to crack civil services examinations popularly called UPSC exam, in addition to relaxing their upper age, a move that would allow lakhs of students to try their luck once more to get into the elite services such as IAS, IPS, IRS etc. Unlike in two previous cases, first being the tearing up of the ordinance that favoured jailed politicians and then…
raising the subsidized LPG cylinders from 9 to 12, Gandhi this time has not made any public posture before aiding lakhs of job seekers. The Congress camp too, till the time of filing this report, has not made any overt attempt to give Gandhi his credit, as it could boomerang because the government usually refrains from interfering in UPSC matters. Even when it does, it sets up committees and goes through a long detailed process before undertaking any major changes.
But if the party’s students arm NSUI’s statement in social media was any indication, the Centre’s sudden decision was influenced by none other than Gandhi who has been eying youths as his constituents ahead of the crucial general elections. “UPSC to provide 2 extra attempts to students 4 Civil Service exam. A cause taken up by @NSUI; supported by Rahulji”, NSUI tweeted.
In fact, activists from National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union among others staged protests in front of the UPSC headquarters in New Delhi, demanding age relaxation, more number of attempts and inclusion of Persian and Arabic in civil services main examinations. Some protestors, who were taken to Rahul Gandhi, strongly demanded his intervention on the matter. The protestors mainly objected to the recent changes in the syllabus of the mains exam, and argued that they must be compensated by allowing more number of attempts.
The personnel ministry of the Central government in its order issued on Monday raised the number of attempts by two in all categories of candidates, but did not spell out what would be the upper age-limit. Unlike other orders, this order is neither signed, nor written in personnel ministry’s letterhead with serial numbers or dates in it.
Here is the short text of the order: “Two additional attempts to all categories of candidates w.e.f. Civil Services Examination 2014, with consequential age relaxation of maximum age for all categories of candidates, if required.” Sources close to the development say there would be an age relaxation by two years, which means a general category candidate will get a chance to appear for the examination till 32 years. The government is expected to spell out the details in a notification that is being issued soon.