UPSC preliminary examination to be held as scheduled

NEW DELHI: The civil services preliminary examination will be held as scheduled on August 24 with the changes announced by government in Parliament today including non-inclusion of English marks in gradation of candidates.

The move comes despite demands by some protesting students to postpone the preliminary exam until the new pattern was adopted by the Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC).

The examination will be held as per schedule and the UPSC, which conducts the prestigious test, will incorporate all the changes announced by the government today in Parliament, official sources said.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said earlier today in Parliament that one more attempt will be given next year to students who had appeared in 2011 civil services examination.

"English marks will not be included for gradation or merit in UPSC exam," Singh said, in an attempt to defuse the protest by the students demanding that the test's pattern be changed.

The Varma Committee, which went through various issues related to the exams, has recommended not to postpone the date of the examination, they said.

Protesting students have been objecting to the level of aptitude and English language questions being asked in the civil services preliminary examination claiming they are much above the prescribed standard mentioned in the test course.