The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released an important notice on May 8, 2025, concerning candidates with disabilities (PwBD/PwD) who have opted to use a scribe for the upcoming Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination scheduled for May 25, 2025.
Candidates who fall under the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) or Persons with Disability (PwD) categories and have chosen to avail of the scribe facility, either through the Commission or on their own, are advised to take note of a key procedural update.
If any candidate wishes to change their scribe for the upcoming prelims, they must submit a formal request along with details of the new scribe via email to [email protected] by 4:00 PM on May 18, 2025.
The Commission has clearly stated that any request sent after the deadline or to any email address other than [email protected] will not be entertained under any circumstances.
UPSC Examination Pattern and Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination comprises two objective-type papers:
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General Studies Paper I: Covers subjects like current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and general science.
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General Studies Paper II (CSAT): Assesses comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, decision-making, and basic numeracy. This paper is qualifying in nature, requiring a minimum of 33% to pass.
Notably, the 2025 examination introduces significant syllabus updates to reflect contemporary issues:
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Digital and AI Literacy: Inclusion of topics on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital governance.
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Environmental Sustainability: Emphasis on climate change policies and sustainable development.
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Health and Ethics: Focus on global health governance and ethical implications of technology in public administration .
Vacancy Distribution
Out of the 979 vacancies, 38 are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), categorized as follows:
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12 for blindness and low vision
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7 for deaf and hard of hearing
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10 for locomotor disabilities
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9 for multiple disabilities, including deaf-blindness .
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is one of the most competitive exams in India, serving as the entry point for prestigious services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others. For 2025, the examination is set to be held nationwide on Sunday, May 25.
This notice is especially crucial for PwBD candidates to ensure they face no hurdles on exam day due to administrative issues regarding scribes. All concerned candidates are advised to act promptly if they need to request a change and to carefully follow the prescribed procedure to avoid disqualification or inconvenience.
For more updates and official announcements, candidates should regularly visit the UPSC website.
