No change in Civil Services prelims date

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday told the Lok Sabha that the civil services preliminary examination will be held as scheduled on August 24, saying it was open to calling an all-party meet to discuss the row over the exam format but that it can take place only after the examination is over.

Addressing the house , Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government's decision not to include marks of the English comprehension for grading candidates will apply to the August 24 examination.

Hundreds of civil service aspirants from non-English backgrounds have been protesting in Delhi and other places against the level of aptitude and English language questions being asked in the preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

"Please remember, we are talking about civil service examination for which lakhs of students have been preparing for a long time," Naidu said in response to demands from several members of Parliament that the government either call an all-party meet on the issue before the August 24 examination or postpone it until such a meeting is held.

"Also remember, nobody can try and change the system of such an examination overnight as it requires deep discussions." "As for this year, there is no scope for postponement of (the preliminary) examination. Let the examination be held on 24 August. I assure all of you the government will discuss with all people concerned with the examination and also various political parties after the budget session of parliament," the minister said.

Naidu's statement followed AIADMK leader M Thambidurai's demand that the examination be held in all regional languages to provide a level-playing field to students from non-English backgrounds.