CIC asks DoPT to restore paper-wise UPSC marks

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended restoring the publication of paper-wise marks obtained by candidates selected through the Civil Services (Main) Examination, after finding that the practice was discontinued from 2018 without any documented policy decision.

The recommendation came while hearing an RTI matter seeking detailed marks of selected candidates across General Studies papers, optional subjects and the Personality Test. The applicant had sought comparative data for a 10-year period up to 2023, including information on the performance of different optional subjects.

The applicant pointed out that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had publicly disclosed paper-wise marks of recommended candidates until the 2017 Civil Services Examination, while only aggregate marks have been available since 2018. The change, the applicant argued, has made it harder for aspirants to assess performance patterns across optional subjects.

CIC flags absence of record

The CIC noted that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), despite being given a final opportunity, could not produce any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other official record explaining why publication of detailed marks was stopped from 2018.

The commission said disclosure of the detailed marks would promote transparency and fairness in the civil services selection process. It also noted that candidates are required to secure at least 10% marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Mains examination.

The CIC further observed that making optional-subject marks available would allow aspirants to make more informed choices instead of relying on potentially unreliable sources for information about candidate performance.

UPSC, DoPT differ over custody of marks

The case also highlighted conflicting positions taken by the UPSC and DoPT over who maintains the detailed marks.

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 declaration of the final result. The DoPT, however, maintained that the detailed marks are generated and maintained only by the UPSC.

The CIC directed the DoPT to provide the RTI applicant with the detailed marks of recommended candidates for each General Studies paper, optional subject paper and the Personality Test for the Civil Services Examinations from 2018 to 2023.

In an advisory issued under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, the commission also recommended reinstating the earlier practice of publishing paper-wise marks, noting that it had been followed before 2018 and was discontinued without any policy decision being found on record.

The recommendation puts the focus back on access to detailed examination data and the transparency of one of India's most competitive selection processes.