NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has officially approved the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) proposal to release provisional answer keys immediately after the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. This pivotal decision will enable candidates to submit objections before the results are announced, signaling a major policy transformation in the nation’s most competitive recruitment process.
A bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and A.S. Chandurkar addressed and resolved several petitions that challenged the UPSC’s former practice of delaying answer key publication until the final results. The Court acknowledged that the Commission’s latest affidavit demonstrated a “conscious and well-considered decision,” arrived at after extensive internal discussions.
Provisional Keys to Be Published Post-Exam
The UPSC’s affidavit outlines a revised procedure that includes publishing the provisional answer key soon after the Preliminary Examination. Candidates will then be invited to raise objections, each supported by three credible sources. These objections will be reviewed by subject matter experts, and the finalized answer key will be used to determine the Preliminary Examination results. The definitive answer key will be made public only after the declaration of final results.
This reform stems from a sustained legal campaign spearheaded by civil service aspirants Vidushi Pandey and Himanshu Kumar. Their petitions advocated for enhanced transparency in the examination process, arguing that delayed disclosures prevented candidates from accurately assessing their performance and learning from their errors.
Vidushi Pandey, one of the petitioners, hailed the verdict as a “historic victory for millions of civil service aspirants.” She expressed that this change would liberate candidates from post-exam anxiety and provide them with an invaluable opportunity for self-improvement.
Court-Monitored Reforms After Years of Resistance
During the court proceedings, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta was appointed as amicus curiae to assist in evaluating the legal and procedural ramifications of the UPSC’s disclosure policy. The petitions were shared with him to ensure a thorough review.
Prior to 2023, the UPSC had consistently maintained that answer keys, cut-off scores, and marks should only be released once the entire examination cycle, including interviews, was complete. This steadfast position was held despite repeated recommendations from Parliamentary Committees and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to publish these details earlier to promote accountability.
As reported by ANI, the UPSC, through its affidavit, acknowledged the pressing need for reform. The Commission cited suggestions garnered during the litigation and its inherent responsibilities as a constitutional body as primary motivators for this significant policy shift.
Implementation to Begin Promptly
The UPSC has affirmed its commitment to implementing these new measures “as expeditiously as possible.” The Supreme Court’s endorsement brings a definitive end to a protracted debate and establishes a crucial procedural precedent that is expected to influence other competitive examinations across India.