Delhi High Court issued notices to Government, UPSC on new exam patterns

The Delhi High Court has given notices to the government and the UPSC on a petition challenging the new pattern for an English paper in the preliminary examination for civil services. The notices were issued on 1st February this year.

According to a newKerela report, a public interest litigation (PIL) challenged a new system of the UPSC making 'English Language Comprehension Skills' a compulsory topic saying that the pattern deprived a vast majority of Indians who had in Hindi or any other regional language from fairly competing in the exam, acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri sought the responses by March 14.

Till 2010, IAS pre-examination followed the pattern that comprises two objective type question papers; one for General Knowledge and one on a subject of his/her choice. However, from 2011, candidates were required to take an aptitude test too for the preliminary examination. The aptitude test carries 200 marks, and about 22.5 marks were allotted to "English Language Comprehension Skills". (Read More...)

The petitioner was reported saying that Hindi is the basis of Indian culture and making English compulsory will strike a body blow to wipe off India's rich cultural heritage from its roots. They feel that Hindi and other classical languages have to be given their rightful place in the educational system and in civil services.

The petitioner alleged that the central government had not consulted the committee on official language, Central Committee of Joint Secretaries dealing with official languages, and the official language Implementation Committee while implementing the new pattern.

More interesting reads:

- CSAT paves way to Civil Services

- Analysis of CSAT 2011 or Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2011