“New UPSC Rules were to Test Communication Skills”
Amid criticism of the new UPSC rules that sought to make
English compulsory in the civil services exam (proposed changes have since been
put on hold) the former UGC chairman Arun S. Nigavekar, who headed the committee
of experts which gave the recommendations, said it had not emphasised any
particular language but only sought to judge a candidate’s communication
abilities.
“The committee suggested an examination pattern which shall
judge a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively, be it in any language,”
the top academician told PTI, adding that the issue of language was not in the
committee’s “terms of reference.”
He declined to comment on whether the inclusion of English in the civil
services main exam was part of his committee’s recommendations.
The panel underlined qualities a 21st-century civil servant should possess to
deal with the multidimensional challenges of the present-day world, Mr.
Nigavekar said.
