New Delhi, Aug 29 (IANS) The Central government has allowed the Union Public Service Commission to use Aadhaar-based identity cards to verify the identity of candidates at the time of registration and during multiple stages of the examinations.
The Personnel Ministry said that the UPSC is “permitted to carry out authentication on a voluntary basis for verification of identity of candidates at the time of registration on the ‘One Time Registration’ portal and at various stages of the examination/recruitment test, for which Yes/No or/and e-KYC authentication facility shall be used.”
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said, “The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) shall comply with all the provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations made thereunder and the directions issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.”
This significant move comes after the UPSC in July cancelled the candidature of Civil Services Examination-2022 candidate Pooja Khedkar and permanently barred her from all future examinations and selections.
Khedkar, a provisional IAS officer who secured 821st all-India rank in the UPSC exam, has been accused of misusing her authority. Several allegations have been levelled against her, including claims that she demanded a separate cabin and staff during her Pune posting, faced an unexpected transfer to Washim district and used a personal Audi car with red-blue lights and VIP number plate. In addition, she allegedly occupied the front chamber of Additional Collector Ajay More without permission, removed office furniture without consent and requested unauthorised facilities.
UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (Preliminary, Main and Interview/Personality Test) for recruitment to services and posts such as Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Information Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’, Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’.
The Delhi High Court in August issued notice to the Delhi Police and UPSC on the anticipatory bail plea of suspended IAS officer Pooja Khedkar. Khedkar approached the Delhi High Court challenging the district court’s decision which refused to grant her bail. The FIR alleges that she had misrepresented her identity to get an extra attempt in the civil services exam.
—IANS
SM/KR
