The prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) offers reservation benefits to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to ensure equal opportunity. Recently, however, these benefits have been under scrutiny due to alleged misuse by certain candidates.
Case: Puja Khedkar, a 2023 batch IAS trainee, faces accusations of availing benefits meant for both the OBC and PwD categories. This sparked concerns about the fairness of the selection process.
Another Controversy: Social media allegations surfaced against Abhishek Singh, a 2011 batch IAS officer, regarding the legitimacy of his PwD claim (Locomotor Disability category) during the exam. Videos showed him exercising, and raising questions.
4% of UPSC CSE vacancies are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates. This policy aims to create a level playing field and promote equal opportunity in civil service recruitment.
PwD Terminology
The term “Persons with Disabilities (PwD)” is the preferred and more inclusive term compared to “Physically Handicapped.” PwD acknowledges the individual and their rights, while “Physically Handicapped” can be limiting and focus solely on physical limitations.
Important Aspects of PwD Reservation in UPSC CSE
- Reservation Percentage: 4% of total vacancies are reserved for PwD candidates.
- Categories of Disability:
- Visual Impairment (VI)
- Hearing Impairment (HI)
- Locomotor Disability (LD)
- Autism, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability & Mental Illness (AID/M)
- Multiple Disabilities
Eligibility for UPSC CSE PwD Reservation
- A valid disability certificate issued by a competent authority is mandatory.
- PwD candidates must meet the same minimum educational qualifications and age limits as others.
- Relaxations: PwD candidates may get age limit relaxation (up to 10 years), extra attempts (up to 9), and lower qualifying marks.
Obtaining a Disability Certificate
- Secure the certificate from a government Medical Board before the UPSC Prelims registration deadline.
- The Board must have a specialist in the candidate’s specific disability.
Exam Provisions for PwD Candidates
- Accessible exam centers with facilities like scribes and extra time.
- A separate merit list for PwD candidates ensures competition amongst peers with similar disabilities.
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