The Supreme Court has now directed the UPSC and the Central Government to file an additional affidavit detailing the challenges they may face if the court accepts the petitioners’ demands. The court also requested relevant data to substantiate their evidence.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India addressing the concerns of civil service aspirants by appointing a senior advocate, Jaideep Gupta, as an amicus curiae to assist the court.
This decision comes in response to a plea by 17 aspirants, seeking greater transparency from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding the disclosure of answer keys, cut-off marks, and candidate scores for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
The bench, comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra, announced this development on January 15, 2025. In its order, the bench stated:
“We have requested Jaideep Gupta, senior advocate present in the court to assist the court as amicus curiae in this matter which request Mr Gupta has graciously accepted.”
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the 17 aspirants, argued that the UPSC’s refusal to disclose these details hampers transparency and accountability. Highlighting the importance of disclosing the answer keys, cut-off marks, and scores, he asserted:
“If the answer keys, cut-off marks and marks of the candidates/aspirants are disclosed, they would be entitled to avail ‘effective’ remedies against wrong and incorrect evaluation on rational and demonstrable basis.”
The petitioners emphasized that such transparency would enable candidates to challenge any errors in evaluation and prepare better for future attempts.
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The UPSC has consistently maintained that it will disclose the marks, cut-off marks, and answer keys only after the entire examination process is completed. This practice, according to the aspirants, is unfair and limits their ability to address grievances promptly.
The Supreme Court has now directed the UPSC and the Central Government to file an additional affidavit detailing the challenges they may face if the court accepts the petitioners’ demands. The court also requested relevant data to substantiate their stance.
Background:
The petition, filed through advocate Rajeev Kumar Dubey, sheds light on the longstanding issue of transparency in the UPSC examination process. It argues that immediate disclosure of answer keys, cut-off marks, and individual scores is a standard practice followed by other institutions, including state public service commissions, IITs, and IIMs.
Criticizing UPSC’s reluctance, the plea states:
“Despite several litigations in the past, the Union Public Service Commission has failed to assign any reason as to why it is so ‘allergic’ to the practice of transparency.”
The aspirants emphasized that millions of candidates spend formative years preparing for these prestigious exams, and their future depends on a fair evaluation process. They claim that the UPSC’s current approach lacks accountability, as highlighted in the petition:
“As would transpire, there is neither any reason nor rhyme to publish the marks, cut-off marks and answer keys of CS(P) examination, ‘only’ after entire process of civil services examination is over, except only with sole motive to frustrate of the cause of action, irrespective of howsoever genuine it might be, of the unsuccessful candidates to seek any effective remedy.”
The petition further argues that disclosure of these details would ensure fair selection and allow aspirants to confirm whether shortlisted candidates deserved their selection.
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It elaborates:
“None of these, could be possible until and unless the respondent — UPSC discloses the correct answer keys, which is the basis of evaluation, the minimum cut-off marks, which is the basis for shortlisting the candidates and marks obtained by candidates to identify if they meet minimum cut-off or not.”
Moreover, such transparency would help candidates prepare more effectively for future attempts:
“This shall also equip the candidates to be well informed and perhaps better prepared for subsequent attempts in examinations.”
Millions of aspirants appear for the civil services exam annually, aiming to secure positions in India’s most prestigious public services.
The petition highlights the broader societal impact of these exams:
“Besides, these all-India services not only affect those who are aspirants of these examinations but the public at large. Therefore, the selection of these posts requires utmost transparency and fairness.”
The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on February 4, 2025.
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