The Case of 2 Ayashas: One Genuine, One Fraudulent
Ayasha Makrani and Ayasha Fatima, two women with the same first name, had staked the claim for the 184th rank in the Civil Services exam, 2022. However, the UPSC found that one of them had forged her documents and the other was genuine.
The UPSC said that:
The 2 Ayashas, Ayasha Makrani, from Alirajpur, had failed the preliminary examination with a low score of 22.22 in Paper-II, which required at least 66 marks. Ayasha Fatima, from Dewas, had secured the 184th rank with a high score of 88.22 in Paper-I, which required at least 66 marks.
The UPSC also said that a similar incident was reported from Haryana, where another candidate had claimed the 44th rank with a negative score of 22.89 in Paper-I, which required at least 66 marks. The UPSC said that it was contemplating both criminal and disciplinary penal action against both the candidates for their fraudulent acts.
About the Civil Services Exam
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a national competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to higher Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). It is one of the most difficult competitive examinations in India.
The CSE consists of three stages: a preliminary examination consisting of two objective-type papers, a main examination consisting of nine papers of conventional (essay) type, and a personality test (interview). The preliminary examination is held in June every year and the main examination is held in September/October. The interview is conducted in March/April of the next year.
Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination is a screening test to select candidates for the main examination. It comprises two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (also known as CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test). Both papers are of two hours duration and carry 200 marks each. The questions are of multiple-choice type and have negative marking for wrong answers.
Main Examination
The main examination is designed to test the academic talent and the ability of candidates to present their knowledge in a coherent and logical manner. It comprises nine papers: four papers on General Studies, two papers on an optional subject chosen by the candidate from a list of 26 subjects, one paper on Essay, one paper on English Language (qualifying only), and one paper on any Indian language included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (qualifying only). Each paper is of three hours duration and carries 250 marks except for the English and Indian language papers which carry 300 marks each.
Personality Test
The personality test or interview is conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers who have before them a record of the candidate’s career. The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service. The interview is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through written papers. The interview is more of a conversation than a cross-examination. The board tests the mental caliber of candidates along with their intellectual qualities, social traits, interest in current affairs, etc. The interview carries 275 marks.
The final ranking of candidates is based on the total marks obtained by them in the main examination and the interview. The number of candidates selected for appointment depends on the number of vacancies available each year. The selected candidates are allocated to various services according to their preferences and merit.
Implications of Forgery Cases
The Civil Services exam is considered to be one of the most prestigious and challenging exams in India. It attracts lakhs of aspirants every year who dream of serving the nation through public administration. However, some unscrupulous elements try to cheat their way into the services by resorting to unfair means such as forgery, impersonation, bribery, etc. Such acts not only undermine the credibility and integrity of the exam but also deprive deserving candidates of their rightful opportunity.
The UPSC has taken several measures to prevent such malpractices and ensure transparency and fairness in the exam process. Some of these measures include biometric verification, digital evaluation, online application system, etc . The UPSC also takes strict action against those who are found guilty of cheating or fraudulently obtaining admission to any stage of examination or appointment to any service or post.
The recent cases of forgery by Ayasha Makrani and another candidate from Haryana are examples of how some candidates try to manipulate their scores or ranks by using fake documents or certificates. Such candidates not only violate the rules and regulations of the exam but also commit a criminal offence punishable by law. The UPSC has rightly decided to initiate both criminal and disciplinary penal action against them as per its rules.
It is hoped that such incidents will serve as a deterrent for others who may be tempted to indulge in such unethical practices. It is also hoped that genuine candidates will continue to work hard and prepare well for this prestigious exam with honesty and dedication.