Article: It is time to fix the UPSC selection process

The recent controversies, including the Puja Khedkar episode, which exposed significant flaws in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selection process in India highlights the  urgent need to reform the system.

Gaping Holes in the System

• Erosion of Credibility: When someone enters a system using fake disability or income certificates, it destroys the system’s credibility. Moreover, it is an injustice to the deserving students who could have been there who worked hard yet could not secure a seat.
• Recent Case: Puja Khedkar had given the exam 12 times, by-passing the number of attempts available by lying about her name, father’s name, etc. She provided false information regarding disability to claim reservation benefits during the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022. Unlike the NEET issue, this was not the one time thing where the system was manipulated. The image of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) has taken a serious beating ever since the Puja Khedkar episode came to light.

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• Role of Tehsildar: The UPSC case has significant long-term implications, not just for the creamy layer concept in Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations, but also for the relatively new reservations for economically weaker sections (EWS). Both categories require individuals to submit income certificates issued by the Tehsildar, a process that has faced severe criticism in this case.
  • Unclear Rules (Income): On the income issue, there is still no clarity on whether the candidate’s income or the candidate’s father’s income is to be considered. Let’s assume Mahesh’s father pays less personal income tax, around Rs 5 lakhs per year. However, Mahesh’s father owns many large businesses with a turnover exceeding Rs 100 crores. Expensive cars are bought by his father under the company’s name, yet he pays low personal income tax. 
    • No Powers of Tehsildar: How can a Tehsildar find out how much does Mahesh’s father earn? A Tehisldar would just issue a certificate based on the income tax return filed of Rs 5 lakhs. The Tehsildar who is charged with the responsibility of issuing the income certificate has no wherewithal or credentials to actually do so. Every Tehsildar is using their own methods/rules to issue the certificates.
  • Unclear Rules (EWS Certificate): Let’s assume Priya became an IRS officer using an EWS certificate. After being on the job for a year or two, she appeared for the examination again, once more using an EWS certificate. There have been cases where people, after being on the job for a few years, have used an EWS certificate.
    • No Way to Check the Authenticity: Candidates fraudulently posing as Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members can be verified on the ground. However, this is not the case with the EWS or the OBC quota system, as well as the disability category, which can all be gamed.
  • Unclear Rules (Mental Disability): Some people would use a mental disability certificate as well. With all respect to the people of this community, one needs to ask a pertinent question: How can a person with a mental disability be able to join a service that requires extensive mental labor? How can such a person be able to work? There have been cases of people who used fraudulent mental disability certificates to get into services.
• Need of the Hour: We need to stop people who use fraudulent means to get into services and are not serious about their duties. They just want to enjoy the perks that the services provide, like a chauffeur-driven car, etc.
• Role of Government: The government needs to play a proactive role in all this. Usually a government becomes proactive when such fraudulent cases come to light. However, even after such a case (Puja Khedkar), the government is yet to take any strong action with regard to overhauling of the selection process.
  • When the EWS reservation was introduced the government should have issued detailed guidelines.
• Solutions: First, the government should establish clear guidelines on income and disability that apply nationwide, regardless of State, Ministry, or sector. 
  • Committee of Eminent Individuals: If necessary, committees comprising eminent individuals or institutions could be formed to help the government achieve consensus on these matters. 
  • Robust Verification System: We need a robust verification system and forward-looking practices, particularly in the disability category. For instance, the income tax department is aware of the transactions, income etc on any pan card. This knowledge could be used.
  • Technology: Additionally, advanced technology should be utilized to combat fraud effectively. For example, in 2018 fake biometric data were used to generate Aadhaar numbers to fraudulently claim subsidies on LPG and other welfare schemes.
  • Role of Judiciary: We need to impose serious penalties on officers and doctors who certify people wrongly without doing due diligence. The courts play an important role here. When one wrong person is selected for the services, another deserving candidate is denied their rightful place in the government. Such people should be afraid to issue such fake certificates and should be worried that they would lose their jobs.
• Conclusion: Comprehensive reforms are essential to restore the credibility of the UPSC and ensure fair and transparent selection processes. There is a need for a reevaluation of the income verification methods and the overall reservation system to prevent misuse and maintain the integrity of the civil services.

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