FPJ-Ed: As COVID-19 cases surge, UPSC students raise concerns about upcoming exams

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) candidates who have been long in a debate over their exam schedule, have a new issue to handle now.

While the UPSC mains exam is scheduled for 9,200 candidates from the capital, they now fear that the new surge in cases will make things difficult to take their exams.

They also fear that candidates coming from outstations will now have other issues to take care of. This time, however, a lot of aspirants have asked minister Shashi Tharoor to pitch an appeal on their behalf. Tharoor requested Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to focus on the timely issue. UPSC candidates have always been extremely vocal about their concerns regarding the exam.

This time they sense that holding the exam right in the middle of the surge is not a good idea. "Sir all coaching centres and libraries are already shut down but no clarification on 9,200 students who will be giving mains in cities like Delhi, Mumbai for a period of 10 days, where majority coming from outside cities! Help us sir, we want rescheduling! #upsc #upscmains," Rahul Nair, a student, said a tweet.

While Dr Ekta Tanwar, a candidate mentioned in a tweet, "Thank you sir for paying attention to our issue. Please think about students coming from outside Delhi as they could be potential carriers when they go back and even if omicron is mild the infectivity rate is very high and even common flu could hamper the exam performance!"