UPSC CSE Mains: CIC asks DoPT to restore publication of paper-wise marks from 2018

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended restoring the practice of publishing the detailed break-up of marks obtained by selected candidates in the Civil Services (Main) Examination. It made the recommendation after finding that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had no record of any formal decision to stop publishing the detailed marks from 2018.The recommendation came amid conflicting positions taken by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the DoPT on who holds the detailed marks. While the UPSC told the commission that it shares the detailed break-up of marks with the DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration after the final result is declared, the DoPT said the detailed marks are generated and maintained only by the UPSC.The matter arose from an RTI application seeking comparative data on the 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 performed in terms of marks.The applicant said paper-wise marks of recommended candidates were publicly disclosed till the 2017 Civil Services Examination, but only aggregate marks have been made available from 2018 onwards. According to the applicant, this affected aspirants' ability to assess performance trends across different optional subjects. CIC FLAGS LACK OF RECORDThe CIC noted that despite being given a final opportunity, the DoPT failed to produce any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other record to support 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". It also noted that candidates must secure at least 10 per cent marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Mains examination.The commission further said that disclosure of optional subject marks would help aspirants make informed choices and ensure they are not "dependent on unreliable sources" for information on how candidates are faring in different subjects. It directed the DoPT to provide the RTI applicant the detailed marks obtained by recommended candidates in each General Studies paper, optional subject paper and Personality Test for the Civil Services Examination from 2018 to 2023. Issuing an advisory under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, the CIC asked for the earlier practice to be reinstated, saying it had been followed before 2018 and was discontinued "without any policy decision on record". The order also underlined the differing stands taken by the UPSC and the DoPT over custody of the detailed marks.(With PTI inputs)- Ends