After Puja Khedkar case, Centre asks UPSC aspirants to submit caste, disability certificates first

The Union government on Wednesday made it mandatory for aspirants to submit online educational, caste and physical disability certificates at the stage of the preliminary exams for civil service recruitment.

Earlier, the candidates had to upload the documents only after they had qualified for the mains examination.

The Ministry of Personnel on Wednesday notified the rules for the 2025 civil services examination. The Union Public Service Commission, a constitutional body, recruits officers to the All India Services and the Central Civil Services through examinations.

The change in the rules comes in the aftermath of the case involving former Indian Administrative Service probationer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of having fraudulently cleared the civil services examination.

The notification issued on Wednesday stated that “failure to provide the required information and documents along with the registration and online application form” will lead to cancellation of the candidature.

The Commission will now also provide a 10-day window after the results of the preliminary examination are declared for candidates to specify their cadre preference.

So far, the service and cadre preference were to be submitted by candidates after passing the mains examination.

It will also provide a 15-day period, starting from the date of declaration of the results of the written part of the mains examination, to the candidates who…

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