New Delhi: The Central Information Commission has recommended reinstating the practice of publishing the detailed break-up of marks obtained by selected candidates in the Civil Services (Main) Examination after finding that the DoPT had no record of any formal decision behind discontinuing the practice from 2018.
The recommendation came amid contradictory positions of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on custody of the detailed marks.
While the UPSC told the commission that after declaration of the final result it gives the detailed break-up of marks to the DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), the DoPT maintained that the detailed marks are generated and maintained solely by the UPSC.
Read more: Over 1.7 crore employees onboarded on iGOT Karmayogi: PM Modi at 20th Rozgar Mela
The matter arose from an RTI application seeking comparative data of marks obtained by all selected candidates in each General Studies paper, optional subject paper and the Personality Test over 10 years, up to 2023.
The applicant also sought information on how different optional subjects had fared in terms of marks.
The applicant contended that while paper-wise marks of recommended candidates were publicly disclosed until CSE 2017, only aggregate marks were being made available from 2018 onwards, affecting aspirants' ability to assess performance trends in different optional subjects.
Read more: Engineering graduates dominate UPSC selections but overwhelmingly opt for Humanities
The CIC noted that despite being given a final opportunity, the DoPT failed to produce any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other record substantiating the discontinuation of publication of the marks from 2018 onwards.
The commission observed that the detailed marks "should be disclosed" to ensure "transparency and fairness in the selection procedure", noting that candidates are required to secure at least 10 per cent marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Mains examination.
It further said disclosure of optional-subject marks would allow aspirants to make informed choices and ensure they are not "dependent on unreliable sources" for information on how candidates are faring in different subjects.
The CIC directed the DoPT to provide the RTI applicant the detailed marks obtained by recommended candidates in each GS paper, optional subject paper and Personality Test for CSE 2018 to 2023.
It issued an advisory under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act to reinstate the practice, saying it had been followed before 2018 and was discontinued "without any policy decision on record".
