The disability quota in UPSC exams is designed to provide equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, reserving 4% of vacancies for them. Some of the aspirants of civil services seem to be taking advantage of the loopholes in the system to make it to the All-India Services.
The need for a disability quota in the UPSC civil services come under scrutiny. Senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal sparked a debate by questioning whether such quotas are necessary for roles that demand physical strength and long working hours. She compared the situation to hiring a pilot or surgeon with a disability, suggesting that certain jobs require specific physical capabilities.
Taking a serious exception to her views, Minister for Tribal Welfare, Sithakka came down heavily on the senior IAS officer and said her views reflected feudal mindset. Several organisations objected to the opinion expresed by the bureaucrat on the need for quota for the physically challeneged in the civil services. Distancing from the stand of the bureaucrat, Deputy Chief Minister, Bhatti Vikramarka said the government will not subscribe to her views, that are her personal. Smitha Sabarwal has discharged key responsibilities being part of the CMO during the previous regime of KCR.
This has led to a significant controversy, with some arguing that her views are exclusionary and undermine the principles of diversity and inclusion. The disability quota in UPSC exams is designed to provide equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, reserving 4% of vacancies for them. Some of the aspir ants of civil services seem to be taking advantage of the loopholes in the system to make it to the All-India Services. From EWS to OBC non-creamy layer to disability, they’ve discovered more loopholes than a Swiss cheese. And the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is caught in a bind in some cases.
Puja Khedkar’s Case- Our protagonist (or antagonist, depending on your perspective) is probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar. She submits disability certificates to secure her spot in the civil services. She even attempted allegedly to forge a third certificate, this time claiming she was physically impaired. Imagine Praveen, burning the midnight oil in one of Delhi’s UPSC libraries. He is on his last attempt, nerves fraying like an old shoelace. Praveen suspects the system might not be entirely fair. And he’s not alone. Many aspirants harbor doubts about fraudulent means being used to crack the exam.
So, what are these magical loopholes? Well, they range from EWS (Economically Weaker Section) to OBC non-creamy layer to disability. Some folks are like Sherlock Holmes with a magnifying glass, scrutinizing certificates. The UPSC’s Dilemma: The UPSC, in a tight spot, has to balance fairness with efficiency. They have filed FIRs against those caught red-handed.
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