GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 537
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022)
EXTRA ATTEMPTS/AGE RELAXATION
537. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is considering to give extra attempts or age relaxation for SSC and UPSC examinations to frontline workers like doctors and police constables during the pandemic;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the steps taken in this regard; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (c): The issue of granting age relaxation and extra attempt to candidates for Civil Services Examination (CSE), due to COVID-19 pandemic was brought before Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide Writ Petitions by CSE aspirants. Based on the judgments passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the matter was considered and it has not been found feasible to change the existing provisions regarding number of attempts and age-limit in respect of the Civil Services Examination.
However, since the recruitment cycle of the Staff Selection Commission was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, for the examinations being advertised in the year 2022, SSC has decided to fix crucial date for determining age as on 01.01.2022. In the normal course, the crucial date for determining age for these examinations would have been 01.08.2022 or 01.01.2023, depending on the schedule of conduct of Tier-II Examinations.
