UPSC Preliminary Examination on 24 August 2014

UPSC Preliminary Examination on 24 August 2014

THE civil services examination will be held as per schedule on August 24. the Government declared on Thursday in Parliament, while saying that consultations will be held with various parties and stakeholders on the matter after the current session.

"As for this year, there is no scope for postponement of (UPSC preliminary)               examination." Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said as Opposition created uproar in Rajya Sabha demanding an all-party meeting immediately.

Civil services aspirants are agitating against more weightage given to English in the exam.

Naidu said the UPSC issue requires "deep" study and discussion with political parties and other stakeholders as there are both sides of the argument about the CSAT in UPSC. "...After the session. Government is ready to discuss it with all" to reach a consensus, he said, adding the Government has taken a correct decision in this regard and minds of students should not be disturbed.

As members insisted for all-party meeting before August 24, Minister of Slate for Parliamentary Affairs PrakashJavadekarsaid there is already a view among many members that it will not be possible to find a solution to the issue immediately.

"An all-party meeting has to take plaee to discuss wider reforms. We will inform about the date later on." he said.

Earlier, Government had announced marks of English will not be included for gradation or merit in UPSC exam.

As soon as the House met for the day. Opposition parties including SP and BSP raised the issue and demanded that Government should immediately call an all-party meeting to resolve the matter as it affects lakhs of students.

IntheLokSabha.AlADMK leader M Thambidurai made a strong plea that the UPSC exam should be conducted in all regional languages to provide level-playing Held to students from all over the country.

Members of Congress, RJD and some other parties associated with Thambidurai. Responding to their concerns. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the mailer was raised in the House earlier also and three years have passed since certain changes were made.

"Changes cannot be done overnight. The issue of different Indian languages being allowed needs to be debated and discussed. It cannot be done in 10-15 days. The exam will be held on August 24... We will take a view after in-depth discussions with all concerned including UPSC." he said.

Raising the UPSC issue in Rajya Sabha. Satish Misra (BSP) wanted to know why the government was delaying an all-party meeting.

He said in the past, all-party meetings have been convened held on important issues within 24 hours.

Trinamool Congress and Left parties raised the issue of Cabinet decision to open up railway infrastructure segment to FDI and raising the foreign investment cap in defence.

When Derek O'Brien (TMC) said that news of liberalisation of FDI in the two sectors was reported by media. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the matter was discussed during debate on the railway and general budget and also at the lime of Finance Bill.