UPSC Increases the Exam Fee for women, SC/STs and Handicapped Candidates
UPSC
The Union Public Service Commission in its notification for the 2010 Civil Services examinations has done away with the requirement of Central Recruitment Fee stamp worth Rs.50 for women and members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as also physically and visually handicapped candidates. Now all that is required of candidates to apply for the exam is to fill up the Rs.20 form and send it across. While this will benefit economically poor students, it will also lead to candidates applying for the exam indiscriminately. Year after year it is seen that over one lakh applicants out of the several lakhs who apply do not appear for the exam. Even before a candidate makes up his/her mind to sit for the exam, he/she sends in the form anyway as the cost involved is meagre.
With this new move now, you can expect many more such applications flowing in. The cumulative impact of this on the Exchequer will be enormous. The UPSC will have to print question papers for all the applications. It will also have to arrange examination centres and employ invigilators at great expense. It is high time the UPSC reviews its decision and discourages the practice of students sending in the forms recklessly with no serious intent. The best way to do this would be to raise the exam fee.
Courtsey: The Hindu
