August 18, 2026 08:59 am (IST)
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Derek O'Brien suggests solution to end UPSC row
Kolkata, Aug 7 (IBNS): Amid a row over the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien on Thursday proposed some suggestions regarding the issue where he said the main examination can be answered in any one of many Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
He said that in a knee-jerk reaction, the government has dropped the English language comprehension component, but this hasn't solved the problem.
"The controversy is a complex one, especially in a country of such linguistic diversity and divergence in English language use. It follows that the solution should be nuanced as well. A sledgehammer approach – drop this paper, cut out that language – will not do," O'Brien wrote in his blog.
"Just like the optional subject papers in the main examination can be answered in any one of many Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule, there should be – from 2015 – provision for translation of the preliminary examination papers as well. Candidates should be able to appear for the two papers in their mother tongue or the language of their choice, not just English or Hindi," he stated.
He said, CSAT should not be summarily rejected or blindly defended.
O'Brien said that the the English comprehension test at the preliminary stage should be permanently dropped, as the government has already agreed to do for this year. The 300-mark English paper at the main examination stage should and must be retained.
"Successful candidates should have English language training, particularly spoken English training, as part of their first-year programme. They should be imparted 300 hours of spoken English training over 12 months, with 100 hours coming in the first three months. This is what language specialists recommend for non-native speakers," he proposed.
Earlier in the day, the Parliament, especially the upper house Rajya Sabha, was rocked over the UPSC CSAT exam row.
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