No discrimination on language for UPSC: Dr. Jitendra Singh

Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr. Jitendra Singh said Friday that no discrimination will be made on the basis of language for candidates appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations.

Singh said, "The government has complete sympathy with these candidates. We have assurance that no decision will be taken against their good. The discrimination on the basis of language cannot take place at all."

"We request all the students to be calmer and patient, we are already much tensed about the situation. The Prime Minister and all the other members of Parliament are more worried about the issue than the candidates," he added.

Clearing the matter of admit cards issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday, he said, "Issuing of admit cards have been misinterpreted. We had made a report earlier and on the basis of that only further decisions will be taken. UPSC is working according to their calendar, but this does not mean that it will ever affect the working or decisions of the government."

Students have been protesting against the exam saying there is a need to change the second paper as it makes it difficult for people coming from rural areas of Hindi-speaking states to crack the exam.

The students argue that the questions asked in language comprehension skills are asked in English and no Hindi translations are provided. They want this to be changed.

However, earlier this month also Jitendra Singh made a statement in the Lok Sabha and assured that no candidate will be discriminated on the basis of language.

The UGC issued admit cards yesterday which further fueled the candidates already protesting against changes made in the examination pattern.