UPSC Exams were not affected by COVID-19 Pandemic. See data comparison here

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The data comparison shows that the coronavirus pandemic did not affect the UPSC exams much. See here for data comparison.

COVID-19 did not affect the UPSC Exams. The data comparison of 2020 with the previous year shows that the number of candidates who appeared post-COVID-19 times was not reduced significantly.

The UPSC is the apex recruitment conducting body of the nation. It notifies several exams every year and conduct the exams as per the prescribed exam calendar. Being a constitutional body, the exams are always conducted on time and there was no delay in conducting the exams.

The average number of candidates who applied and appeared in all the UPSC exam pre-corona and post-corona period was not changed significantly. The coronavirus pandemic did not affect the conduct of the UPSC exam and the number of candidates who appeared in the UPSC exam. The numbers of candidates who appeared in the UPSC exam, after the nationwide lockdown, were not reduced significantly. The data presented in the Supreme Court by the UPSC shows that the number of candidates who appeared in the UPSC exams in 2020-21 (post COVID-19 pandemic) was almost similar to the pre-pandemic years.

UPSC conducts 10 Civil Exams and four defence exams every year. The comparison between the pre and post COVID-19 numbers shows that there was little impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of candidates who appeared in the UPSC exams.

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Exam Name	Candidates Applied	Candidates Appeared
Civil Services Prelims (IAS)
2020	10,400,60	4,827,70
2018	10,655,52	5,004,84
2017	9,690,65	4,628,48

NDA/NA (I) & (II) Exam 2020	5,301,85	2,404,45
NDA/NA (I) Exam 2018	4,506,41	2,946,88
NDA/NA (II) Exam 2018	3,487,85	2,405,76
NDA/NA (I) Exam 2017	4,169,61	2,680,12
NDA/NA (II) Exam 2017	3,442,02	2,321,20

CDS II Exam
2020	2,343,43	1,182,50
2018	2,362,48	1,205,79
2017	2,661,02	1,273,26

Engineering Services (Main) Exam
2020	2,263	1,955
2018	4,206	3,889
2017	3,769	3,437

Combined Medical Services Exam
2020	43,120	20,213
2018	40,556	19,873
2017	39,166	18,183

CAPF Exam
2020	2,960,66	89,946
2018	3,072,96	1,086,77
2017	2,822,60	1,027,07

*The data provided above are taken from the official sources and the data provided by the UPSC in the Supreme Court.

One of the major reason for not reduction in the numbers was the facility provided by the UPSC to change the exam centres in the post-pandemic period. This provided the opportunity for the candidates to appear in the UPSC exam near their residence. The UPSC released a new exam calendar because of the coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled all the exams mentioned above. It also combined the NDA/NA (I) and (II) exam 2020.