Raise before Prime Minister an Issue of adding English marks in UPSC Merit List: Chouhan

He has written to all chief ministers of states in this regard. It may be noted here that Chouhan recently wrote to the Prime Minister on the same issue.

Chouhan said that it will be disadvantage to candidates from rural areas and small towns where competences in English language are extremely limited. He said that during last three decades, a number of rural youths and those from disadvantaged sections have made it to the All India and other allied services.

Referring to Government of India’s decision for considering the marks in English language to preparing the merit list, he said that any reform in the examination system should recognize the limitations of opportunity imposed on them, despite their intrinsic ability and depth of knowledge acquired through education. Intake from rural and small town India into these services characterizes inclusiveness and helps counter any feeling of in-alienation, he added.

Chouhan said that though there is growing need for sound knowledge of English language in a globalizing world, the competencies and skills can be acquired through training and exposure. The UPSC examination system should lay stress on selecting candidates primarily for their aptitude and intelligence, pre-requisites which can throw up the best for subsequent nurturing of the most talented, he added.

The Chief Minister said that no language should be allowed to become a limiting factor in selection, especially when the playing field is not exactly even. The candidates should be encouraged to express themselves in any Indian language, after a qualifying standard for English comprehension.

He said that since Independence, efforts have been made to expand the representative character of the civil services and to these efforts is owed the present situation wherein we find more and more candidates from some very poor and deprived families joining the civil services.