IAS 2020 prelims not postponed; SC dismissed the petition with directives to UPSC

Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking postponement of IAS 2020 prelims exam. IAS prelims will be conducted on October 4. See details here.

Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking postponement of IAS prelims 2020 but with a stern directive to the UPSC that only a hundred candidates will be allowed at the IAS exam centre. Also a separate sitting arrangement for the COVID-19 patients appearing in the IAS 2020 exam.

Besides above, SC asks the UPSC to consider an extra attempt for the corona warriors who had the last attempt this year. SC did not impress by the suggestion to merge the IAS 2020 and 2021. 

Supreme Court was hearing the petition seeking postponement of UPSC IAS 2020 prelims exam. Today, the apex court was hearing the matter and during the argument, it was evident that the IAS prelims 2020 will not be postponed. UPSC is bound by the duties and it is not possible to postpone the exam because it will have a cascading effect on other exams- SC bench observed.

@12.52 - SC asks UPSC has to ensure conformity of their guidelines with that of MHA especially to see more than 100 candidates are not allowed in one centre. The SOP issued by UPSC if found not in conformity,  then supplementary SOP to be issued.

@12.50- SC: UPSC should ensure separate sitting arrangements for candidates who are suffering from cough and cold during the test.

@12.48 - SC: Regarding the appearance of COVID patients being allowed to appear in the exam with the separate arrangement. It is not possible to entertain such general prayers. SOP requires that COVID positive ones are to be in isolation and quarantine.

@12.44- Bench said: An extra attempt is sought for the ones who are taking the last attempt as they might not able to appear due to the pandemic. In this regard, we have impressed upon ASG Raju to explore the possibility for giving them one more attempt to such exams without extending the age limit.

@12.30-The counsel for the petitioner said to the bench that it's an unprecedented situation. My client is appearing for the last attempt.

@12.28-Merging exams are not possible.  But does UPSC guidelines conform with MHA guidelines? If there is any lacuna please seek supplementary guidelines.

@12.26- UPSC Counsel also said that if the IAS 2020 is postponed, it will have the effect on IAS prelims 2021 also and it will also be delayed.

@12.25- Naresh kaushik said the COVID positive patients are now allowed to travel. Moreover, he submitted the detail list of the precautions taken by the UPSC exam centre on the exams day.

@12.19-What will happen to the candidates who are COVID positive? Bech Ask UPSC.

@12.10- Naresh Kaushik submitted in the SC that no such representations are submitted to the commission. Moreover, the UPSC has asked all the Chief Secretaries of the states to make sure that all the public transport should run at the optimum level on the day of the IAS prelims 2020 exam.

@12.05- SC asks UPSC about the officers who are not getting the leaves to appear in the exam. What arrangements does UPSC make for the Corona warriors? 

The UPSC had filed its affidavit and the court needs to hear the argument of both the parties today. The case number in the today cause list of Supreme Court.

On September 28, UPSC’s advocate Naresh Kaushik stated in the Court that: it is impossible to postpone the UPSC prelims now”. But the Supreme Court asks UPSC to submit an affidavit enumerating the preparations made by UPSC for the Civil Services 2020 Prelims. There are persons who are joining the petition after its first date.

See here: IAS Syllabus

The petitioner represented by Alakh Alok Srivastava who is advocate-on-record in Supreme Court is a forerunner in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Indian. A group of Civil Services aspirants filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India on September 26 seeking the postponement of IAS 2020 prelims exam because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the flood situation in the country. On the first hearing, the Supreme Court sent a notice to the Union Government of India and UPSC.

IAS prelims exam is an offline exam conducted simultaneously across the nation on the same day with the same question paper. The candidates need to mark their answers with ball-point pen in the OMR sheet.

Read More:

IAS Previous Year Question Paper

Important Topics for IAS exam

Current affairs topics for IAS exam

Expected IAS questions