The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) consider restoring the practice of publishing paper-wise marks of candidates recommended in the Civil Services (Main) Examination. The recommendation follows an RTI case in which the CIC found that there was no official record explaining why the detailed marks stopped being publicly displayed from 2018. The Indian Express
The matter originated from an RTI application seeking comparative data on the marks obtained by selected candidates in individual General Studies papers, optional-subject papers and the Personality Test over a 10-year period, up to 2023. The applicant also sought information on the performance of candidates across different optional subjects. The Indian Express
According to the report, paper-wise marks of recommended candidates were publicly available in 2017, while from 2018 onwards, only aggregate marks have been made available. The RTI applicant argued that the absence of detailed marks makes it more difficult for aspirants and researchers to understand performance trends across individual papers and optional subjects. The Indian Express
During the proceedings, UPSC informed the CIC that after the final results are declared, detailed marks are forwarded to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). DoPT, meanwhile, stated that the detailed marks are generated and maintained by UPSC. The Indian Express
The CIC noted that despite being given a final opportunity to provide supporting documents, DoPT could not produce a file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other official record establishing that a formal decision had been taken to stop publishing the detailed marks from 2018. The Indian Express
The commission said that disclosure of detailed marks would promote transparency in the examination and selection process. It also pointed out that candidates appearing for the Civil Services Mains examination are required to meet minimum qualifying requirements in the competitive written papers, making paper-wise performance information relevant to understanding the examination results. The Indian Express
The CIC also highlighted the potential usefulness of optional-subject-wise marks. According to the commission, making such information available could help aspirants understand performance patterns and make more informed choices rather than relying on unofficial or potentially unreliable sources. The Indian Express
Under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information Act, the CIC issued an advisory recommending that the earlier practice of displaying detailed marks be reinstated. The commission also directed DoPT to provide the RTI applicant with detailed marks of recommended candidates for each General Studies paper, optional-subject paper and Personality Test for Civil Services examinations conducted from 2018 to 2023. The Indian Express
The development does not itself change the UPSC examination rules; it is a recommendation from the CIC concerning disclosure of marks. Any decision on future publication of paper-wise marks would depend on the concerned authorities and UPSC’s subsequent action.
