UPSC Pre 2020 postponement case

A petition has been filed in the SC for postponement of UPSC Prelims 2020. The matter is in the Supreme Court and hearing is ongoing.

During the hearing, UPSC tells Supreme Court

It would not be possible to defer the exams as they had earlier been postponed due to the pandemic. Any further “deferment may nullify the objective of holding the exams”.

The bench has now asked the UPSC advocate to file a short affidavit listing down the logistical reasons for not postponing the exam and posted the matter for further hearing on Wednesday.

The petition has been filed by some aspirants, raising 2 major issues:

• Firstly, the conduct of the exam amid a dangerous public health crisis was a violation of the fundamental right to life of lakhs of aspirants.
• Secondly, UPSC is violating the right to equality as aspirants from lower middle classes may not be able to afford the cost of transport, accommodation, and other facilities to take the exam during the pandemic.