Letters: In plain English?

Apropos the editorial "English Vinglish" (August 6), in a knee-jerk reaction to the protests over the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), by clarifying that the English comprehensive skills component of Paper II does not count in the grading or merit, the Union government has played into the hands of the agitators. Instead of clearing the air on a well-established procedure, the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government has indulged in appeasement politics and dealt a blow to the most sought-after and highly contested public service examinations in the country. While proficiency in English forms the bedrock for civil services, the move is a disservice to all Indian Administrative Services aspirants from different linguistic backgrounds. Since English is considered a global language for communication and business purposes, and to conduct bilateral relations between governments, the treatment given to one of most widely spoken and understood language in the world is a misstep in equipping future public servants with the appropriate language skills.

R Prabhu Raj Chennai

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