CIC directs UPSC to make Exams transparent

Overruling the plea of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Central Information Commission has reaffirmed its earlier decision that the former provide cut-off marks and individual marksheets to civil service aspirants appearing in the UPSC Exams.

CANDIDATES WHO take the civil service examinations can now insist the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) inform them exactly how they fared. The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Monday ruled in favour of a group of students who had appealed to it in August, seeking to know, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, their scores in the civil service preliminary exam this year, which the UPSC had refused to reveal.
Agreeing with all three demands of those who had appeared in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSPE) 2006 and were not satisfied with selections, the Central Information Commission (CIC) on Monday directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to disclose the marks obtained by each candidate in general studies and optional subjects and the cut-off marks in these subjects.

Disposing of petitions filed in this regard, a full Bench of the CIC gave the UPSC two weeks time to furnish the information.

For subjects where there were no cut-off marks, the UPSC should disclose subject-wise marks.

The final order gives UPSC two weeks to disclose the cut-off marks and individual marks to each of the applicant for the civil services preliminary examination 2006 in general studies and the optional papers.

"The UPSC shall examine and consider under Section 8 (1)(D) of the RTI Act the disclosure of the scaling system as it involves larger public interest in providing a level playing field for all aspirants and shall place the matter before the competent authority within one Month," the CIC said.