In recent hearing Supreme Court has granted the union government time till January to decide on giving an extra chance to UPSC candidates for UPSC Prelims 2021. In the September hearing, Supreme Court had declined to postpone the Union Public Service Commission, UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam.
Due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and resultant lockdown situation, candidates were not able to appear in the exam.
India’s Supreme court was hearing the plea filed by a group of UPSC IAS exam aspirants seeking an extra attempt in the UPSC Civil Services Exams 2021. The next hearing will be on January 11, 2021.
“An extra attempt is pertinent because their preparation has been severely disrupted on account of the COVID-19 situation and also because they will become age-barred next year”, the plea said.
UPSC has released UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2020 admit card on December 18, 2020. The examination will be conducted on January 8, 9, 10, 16, and 17, 2021. The forenoon session would be from 9 AM to 12 noon and the afternoon session would be conducted from 2 PM to 5 PM. The admit card will be available on the official site from December 17 to January 17, 2021.
The plea was filed by a group of 24 Civil Service aspirants. The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai, and Krishnan Murari took up the petition.
With this extra attempt, such candidates who have failed to attend the exams this year could also appear for the examination.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the exam for selecting candidates for Indian Administrative Services, Indian Police Services and 22 other Civil Services.
Currently, the Civil Services exam 2020 is being held. The notification of the current Civil Services exam was released on February 12, 2020. The exam was scheduled to be held on May 31, however, it was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic and was held on October 4. The UPSC had released the result of the exam within 20 days and has scheduled the main exam in January, 2021.
After the main exam, interview is held. Candidates are shortlisted for the interview based on the marks obtained in the main exam.
Notification for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021 is expected to be out by February 10, 2021. Once the notification is out, aspirants can apply for IAS/IPS exam 2021.
Date of UPSC Civil Service Preliminary Exam 2021: June 27 2021 (Sunday).
Date of UPSC Civil Service Main Exam 2021: September 17 2021 (starting date).
The Main Exam (written) is planned to be conducted from September 17. There are 9 papers in the Main exam and it will take 5 days to complete the Main exam.
The expected dates of Mains 2021 are September 17, 18, 19, 25 and 26 (2021).