The Central Information Commission (CIC) has advised the Central government to reinstate the practice of publishing paper-wise marks of candidates who clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE). 

Information Commissioner Jaya Varma Sinha noted that the subject-wise marks of successful candidates were made public till 2018 but were discontinued without any policy decision on record. 

The Commission said that publishing these details was in the interest of transparency and building faith in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), a constitutional body. 

“An advisory under Section 25 (5) of the RTI Act is issued to the Respondent Public Authority DoPT to reinstate the practice of publication of detailed break-up marks obtained by recommended candidates in Civil Services (Mains) Examination. This advisory by the Commission to reinstate this practice is based on the reliance (and the fact) that the same was done prior 2018 and was discontinued without any policy decision on record,” the Commission said in its September 24 decision. 

The advisory was issued under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act). The provision empowers the CIC or State Information Commission to issue recommendations to public authorities if it is found that their practices do not conform to the “provisions or the spirit” of the RTI Act.  

The CIC’s decision came on an RTI appeal filed by Aniket Kumar Gupta, who had sought data for the previous 10 years, including marks secured by all recommended candidates in individual general studies papers, optional papers and the personality test. Gupta had pointed out that while paper-wise marks of recommended candidates were published until CSE 2017, such disclosure was discontinued from CSE 2018 onwards, with only aggregate marks being made available.

UPSC told the Commission that subject-wise marks were treated as personal information and were not disclosed publicly, although written examination totals, personality test marks and final totals of recommended candidates were published.

Meanwhile, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) claimed that disclosure of detailed marks could result in coaching institutes selectively projecting certain optional subjects as “high scoring” and commercially exploiting aspirants.

However, during the proceedings, DoPT admitted that it could not trace any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other record documenting the decision to discontinue publication of the detailed marks.

In its order, the CIC also noted contradictory positions taken by UPSC and DoPT regarding custody of the marks. While DoPT said detailed marks were prepared and maintained solely by UPSC, UPSC stated that such information was passed on to DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) after declaration of results.

After considering the case, the CIC directed DoPT to provide the detailed marks for CSE 2018 to 2023 to Gupta within three weeks of receiving the order.

It also issued the advisory under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act. 

[Read order]