No extra chance for Civil Service aspirants who have exhausted their attempts: Central government tells Supreme Court

The Central government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that candidates who have exhausted all their attempts at the Civil Service examination on October 2020 will not be given an extra chance. .The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) limits the number of attempts for a candidate to appear in the UPSC Civil Services examination..It is currently 6 attempts for general category candidates with an upper age limit of 32 years. OBC candidates have nine attempts till 35 years of age while SC/ST candidates till 37 years of age..Additional Solicitor-General SV Raju informed the top court that by a late evening call on Thursday, it was informed that no extra attempt would be given to the UPSC candidates who appeared for their last chance on October, 2020..The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the Centre to states its stand taken on affidavit and adjourned the case for January 25. .The petitioners had contended that a lot of candidates failed to appear for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 due to the disruptions caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and thus, sought an extra attempt for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2021..The plea stated many candidates were appearing for their last attempt this year due to the age bar disqualification and thus, they were hoping to attain an extra attempt for the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2021. Many candidates felt that their preparations were disrupted due to the pandemic..Central government had earlier told the Supreme Court of India that a proposal to give an extra chance to civil service aspirants affected by COVID-19 was under active consideration by the government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)..Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the petitioners had earlier submitted that the court has directed the Centre to consider grant of an extra chance considering the difficulties raised due to the pandemic.On September 30, the top court had directed the Centre and the UPSC to consider granting an extra chance to candidates who otherwise have their last attempt in 2020, with a corresponding extension of the upper age-limit.