UPSC New Exam Rules: Major Change in Civil Services Exam Rules, Answer Keys to Be Released Right After Prelims

UPSC New Exam Rules: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to introduce a groundbreaking change to the Civil Services Examination rules. Until now, the answer key was released only after the final results were declared. However, from now on, a Provisional Answer Key will be published right after the Preliminary Examination. The Commission announced this new decision in response to a case in the Supreme Court, bringing immense relief to millions of aspirants.

What is this New Rule?

UPSC has stated that henceforth, the Provisional Answer Key for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination will be released within a week of the exam’s conclusion. This answer key will be uploaded to the commission’s website, allowing candidates to compare it with their own answers. This will give candidates a clear idea of their probable score immediately after the exam.

The most significant aspect of this decision is that it provides an opportunity for candidates to raise objections. If there are any errors or discrepancies in the published provisional answer key, candidates can submit their challenges to the commission within a specified time frame. The commission will review these objections, prepare the final answer key, and then publish the preliminary exam results based on it.

Why Was This Change Implemented?

Previously, the UPSC’s rule was to release the preliminary exam’s answer key at the very end of the recruitment process, i.e., after the final results were published. This raised many questions about transparency in the minds of the candidates. Even if there were errors in the answer key, there was no opportunity to challenge them, which had been a long-standing grievance among aspirants.

A case was filed in the Supreme Court against this lack of transparency, demanding that the answer key be published immediately after the preliminary exam. In response to that case, the UPSC submitted an affidavit and announced the implementation of this new rule. This step is expected to increase transparency in the recruitment process and make the commission’s accountability clearer to the candidates.

How Beneficial is This Rule for Candidates?

This new rule is undoubtedly highly beneficial for Civil Services aspirants. Some of the main advantages are:

• Increased Transparency: Candidates will now know the basis on which they are being evaluated. There is also an opportunity to correct any mistakes.
• Quick Evaluation: By matching their answers and getting a probable score right after the exam, candidates can make a swift decision about starting their preparation for the next stage, the Mains examination.
• Reduced Mental Stress: Candidates will be relieved from the long-standing uncertainty about the results and doubts about the correctness of the answers.
• Boosted Confidence: As the entire process becomes more candidate-friendly, the trust of the aspirants in the commission will increase.

Overall, this decision by the UPSC has been welcomed by everyone, from the academic community to the candidates themselves. It is hoped that this will make the process of India’s most prestigious examination even more transparent, fair, and reliable.