New Delhi: “What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?”
This question, which appeared in the General Studies paper of the civil service exam conducted Saturday and had to be answered in 150 words, has led to an uproar about the objectivity of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
While several people hailed the question as evidence of “changing times” in the country, others criticised it for being subjective and leading in nature — a departure from tradition for the UPSC.
“The question is an ominous sign that one more institution is ready to toe the line of the present-day dispensation at the cost of its objectivity,” said retired IAS officer T.R. Raghunandan. “It is very unfortunate because the UPSC hardly has any taints or aspersions cast on it in its decades-old history.”
Raghunandan contended that the question was “sharply and obviously tuned to the government narrative”.
“It is a way of screening out people on the basis of their ideology,” the former IAS officer alleged.
However, the UPSC maintained that the question was “open-ended”. “The question can be answered in any way the candidate wishes… It is very open-ended,” a senior UPSC official said on the condition of anonymity.
Some candidates agreed. “There is no bias in the question,” said one candidate who appeared for the civil service exam.
“We can’t just conclude that the question is designed to target Indian secularism… I answered the question by saying that secularism itself is Indian culture. So you can call it a trick question, but candidates can answer it the way they want.”
Also read: RSS wants to help Hindi UPSC aspirants, urges Modi govt to do away with aptitude test
Social media uproar
The question instantly caught the attention of social media users.
Congress’ Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of the opposition in the Kerala assembly, blamed the RSS for “instilling the venom of communalism” into democratic institutions.
Its irony that the UPSC finds the term "secularism" which is part of the preamble of our Constitution, as challenging to Indian Culture.#StopSaffronisingConstitutionalBodies
— Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) September 23, 2019
One of the most rated exam in the world UPSC,is the new casuality of the RSS agenda of instilling venom of communalism into the democratic institutions.#StopSaffronisingConstitutionalBodies pic.twitter.com/duMZBeSBil
— Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) September 23, 2019
Another user, Anshul Trivedi, wrote:
India is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic. If we proclaim the value of equality, by default, we uphold the value of Secularism. This question is antithetical to the founding ideals of our Nation & spirit of our freedom movement. https://t.co/vFg943GBs4
— Anshul Trivedi (@anshultrivedi47) September 22, 2019
Zafar Mahmood, founder of the Zakat Foundation that provides free coaching to underprivileged Muslim candidates for the civil service exam, called the question “unfortunate”.
“It is a reminder that every institution is getting affected by the social climate and ethos that has been at play in the last 4-5 years in the country,” he said. “It is unfortunate when objectivity at the highest level of recruitment is jettisoned… It is a threat to the constitutional spirit.”
However, Mahmood felt the question betrayed the mindset of the paper-setter alone, and not the whole UPSC. “We are sincerely hopeful that this is a one-off case,” he said.
Also read: UPSC question paper gets ‘lost in translation’, RSS-backed body wants it drafted in Hindi
What the fu*k is government narrative?? ALL goverments must follow the narrative of the Constitution. Do not propagate Danda Jhanda propaganda.
How can you not ask an aspirant who is going to Serve Indians about his clarity of ideas ?
This will in fact clear his ideas. The clarity about differentiating your personal cultures and religious learning’s from cohabitation and acceptance of someone else’s ideas of culture and religion is the key.
Moreover if you want them to implement the concept , then what’s the problem with asking them to write about their understanding of the concept !
The opposition by cited gentleman fails on these counts and seems more in archaic nature.
It’s a great idea ! Keep up UPSC .
“Socialist” was not in the original constitution…when was it added, by whom under which party?
If UPSC should not toe the elected government, should it toe the badly defeated opposition? Secularists are expecting their whims and fancies to continue even after people have squirely rejected them. In essence Secularists are nothing other than dictators who had forcibly imposed their ill conceived leftist ideas on every Indian. Things are changing now to a natural state. Thanks to Modi’s leadership, India is moving ahead leaving the ones who want to live in past. Let them disappear as they are unfit to face the change.
What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism?” is the finest question to be asked.
Only centrists and conservatives especially free market people should be recruited in upsc. Leftists should be beaten at the entrance gates of exam venues and sent back. Conservatives were shunned by upsc, now it’s time for leftists to be shunned.
Muslim schools are exempt from reserving 25% for poor children under RTE Act. Did any of you sickulars raise your voice then?