The UPSC 2025 exams introduce mandatory online submission of documents during prelims, addressing concerns after an IAS officer-Puja Khedkar’s forgery scandal involving fake disability claims. The government has notified new rules, including stricter verification, tech-driven systems like Aadhar authentication, and reduced vacancies to 979 this year, marking a three-year low.
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NEW DELHI: The process of submitting documents like educational, caste, and disability certificates has now been made compulsory online for candidates appearing for the preliminary exams of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Earlier, these documents were required to be scanned and uploaded only after qualifying for the Mains examination, as stated in a recent government notification.
On January 22, 2025, the Ministry of Personnel announced the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Rules 2025, which will be conducted by the UPSC. According to the notification, this year’s exams will fill 979 vacancies, marking the lowest number in the past three years. The UPSC conducts these exams to recruit for 23 different services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
In 2023, about 10.1 lakh candidates applied for the CSE, but only 5.9 lakh of them appeared for the exams.
This change in procedure comes after the case of probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who was found to have allegedly forged identity documents, misrepresented facts, and submitted a fake disability certificate to claim extra attempts and reservations in the 2022 Civil Services Examination. She reportedly took the exam 12 times, which exceeds the permitted nine attempts.
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Her alleged fraud came to light in June 2024 while she was undergoing field training in Pune. Consequently, Ms. Khedkar was dismissed from service, faced criminal charges, and is currently out on bail.
This incident prompted the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to investigate six bureaucrats, including Ms. Khedkar, to verify their claims under the disability category. These officials include five IAS officers and one Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, all of whom had availed reservation benefits under the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) category.
The January 22 notification specifies that candidates applying for the CSE must submit all necessary information and documents online to support their claims. These include details such as date of birth, category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD, or Ex-Servicemen), educational qualifications, and service preferences.
The notification also highlights,
“Failure to provide the required information and documents along with the registration and online application form will entail cancellation of candidature for the examination.”
Previously, candidates were required to submit their service and cadre preferences only after clearing the Mains examination. However, the new rules allow a 10-day window after the preliminary exam results to specify cadre preferences.
ALSO READ: “One Of Puja Khedkar’s Disability Certificates May Be Forged”: Police To Delhi HC
Additionally, candidates who clear the written part of the Mains exam will be given a 15-day window to submit their preferences before the Personality Test/Interview stage.
In June 2024, the UPSC sought proposals to modernize the examination system using technological advancements like Aadhar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and AI-powered CCTV surveillance.
The UPSC conducts 14 different examinations annually, including the CSE, to recruit candidates for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts in the Government of India.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Puja Khedkar
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