Covid-19 pandemic: Govt relaxes age criteria for SSC exam 2022, no relief for UPSC aspirants

New Delhi, July 20

The Central Government has approved age relaxation for frontline workers aspiring to take the Staff Selection Commission examination on account of delays in the recruitment cycle of the exam which was delayed due to COVID-19.

In a written answer in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said since the recruitment cycle of the Staff Selection Commission was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, for the examinations being advertised in the year 2022, the SSC has decided to fix crucial date for determining age as on 01.01.2022.

In the normal course, the crucial date for determining age for these examinations would have been 01.08.2022 or 01.01.2023, depending on the schedule of conduct of Tier-II Examinations, he said.

However, no such relaxations would be granted to UPSC aspirants.

The minister said that the issue of granting age relaxation and extra attempt to candidates for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) due to COVID-19 pandemic was brought before the Supreme Court of India through writ petitions by CSE aspirants. “Based on the judgments passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the matter was considered and it has not been found feasible to change the existing provisions regarding number of attempts and age-limit in respect of the Civil Services Examination,” Singh said.