UPSC: Ex-UGC chief says no particular language stressed upon

NEW DELHI: Amid criticism of new UPSC rules making English compulsory in civil services exam, a top academician, who headed the panel set up to recommend changes, said it had not emphasised on any particular language but only sought to judge a candidate's communication ability.

"The committee suggested an examination pattern which shall judge a candidate's ability to communicate effectively, be it in any language," former UGC chairman Arun S Nigavekar told PTI, adding the issue of language was not in the committee's "terms of reference".

He declined to comment on whether the inclusion of English in the civil services mains exam was part of his committee's recommendations.

The committee underlined qualities a 21st century civil servant should possess to deal with the multi-dimensional challenges of the present-day world, Nigavekar said.

"In our recommendations, we gave a broader and generic outline of the same," he said.

Noting that role of a civil servant is becoming more and more demanding and a prospective bureaucrat will now be introduced to comparatively more challenging work environment, the committee suggested a pattern where more than knowledge of the candidate, his ability to convert it at the operative level is tested.

As per the changes effective from this year, a 100 marks paper of English comprehension and precis will replace English and Indian language papers which were qualifying in nature and their marks were not included while forming the merit list.

The new pattern has sparked protests with chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and J Jayalalitha -- expressing dissent over it and seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention.

In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt the Commission's exams in the state if its demand to include Marathi in the syllabus was not met. The issue was also raised in Parliament.