New Delhi: Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab Monday sought the permission for one more attempt for civil services aspirants who suffered between 2011 and 2014 due to introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in 2011.
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, the BJD MP said the Union Public Service Commission had introduced CSAT in the Civil Services Examination in 2011. This brought down the percentage of qualified students from the Hindi medium from 42.2 per cent in 2009 to 15 per cent in 2011.
“Those candidates have been demanding an additional attempt. However, the government had not accepted their demand. The government had replied that they had grown older by two years and gave two additional attempts for that category of candidates for CSE 2014 onwards,” Mahtab said.
Age and number of attempts meant for all the candidates, those who suffered between 2011 and 2014 and who became eligible for CSE after 2014.
“So it is an injustice to those who suffered between 2011 and 2014. The Odisha government has allowed one more attempt in CSAT and the UP government two more attempts. About 65 per cent of the aspirants were affected and they have asked for two more chances. I appeal to the Centre to allow additional attempts for candidates who have suffered between 2011 and 2014 to appear in the CSE,” he added.