Civil Services exam not to be postponed

Ceding to the Opposition parties’ demands on allowing aspirants to the Civil Services to write their exams in all 22 regional languages, the Government has decided to call an all-party meeting, though no date has been announced.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told Parliament on Thursday that consultations will be held with parties and stakeholders on the matter after the current session. But, he added that: “As for this year, there is no scope for postponement of examination.”

The row is also threatening to take a Hindi versus non-Hindi colour, with many Opposition parties critical of the Government’s recent announcement regarding not counting English marks for gradation or merit. Parties such as CPI(M), CPI, AIADMK, DMK and Janata Dal (United) have demanded an equitable solution to the problem, urging the Government to make available question papers in all 22 languages.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was unfair to ‘foist’ a language on others. “For example, we are a State with three diverse regions. Our official languages are Urdu and English. To foist a language on us would be extremely unfair,” he said. On the other side, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party are demanding withdrawal of the CSAT paper and postponement of the preliminary exams. Pappu Yadav, Lok Sabha MP from RJD, the loudest voice in support of the protesting students, said: “It is not a question of English or Hindi. It is a question of the rights of youths who belong to poor, lower middle-class and villages.”