The controversial new rule notified by the UPSC for candidates appearing for the civil services examination ( >now put on hold ) makes it mandatory to crack a paper on English comprehension and English précis. This is perceived as discriminatory by non-English medium students.
The rule says: “Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except Section 2 of the Paper-I (English comprehension and English précis) in English or Hindi. If the candidate has had his/her graduation in any of the following language mediums using the particular language medium for qualifying the graduate level examination, then he/she may opt for that particular language medium to answer all the question papers, except Section 2 of the Paper-I (English comprehension and English précis).”
Further, it says that in the interest of maintaining the quality and standard of the examination, a minimum of 25 candidates should opt for a specific language for answering the question papers in that language and in case there are less than 25 candidates opting for any approved language (other than English or Hindi), then those candidates will be required to write their examination either in Hindi or in English only.
