New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended reinstating the practice of publishing the detailed, paper-wise marks obtained by candidates recommended for the Civil Services Examination, while flagging the absence of any documented policy decision behind the discontinuation of the practice from 2018.
The recommendation follows an RTI matter concerning the disclosure of marks secured by selected candidates in individual General Studies papers, optional subject papers and the Personality Test.
The CIC’s intervention has also brought to light contradictory positions taken by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding the custody and maintenance of detailed marks.
While the UPSC told the commission that it provides the detailed break-up of marks to the DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) after the declaration of the final result, the DoPT maintained that the detailed marks are generated and maintained solely by the UPSC.
RTI Seeks Ten Years of Paper-Wise Marks
The matter originated from an RTI application seeking comparative information on the marks obtained by all recommended candidates in individual papers over a period of 10 years, up to the Civil Services Examination 2023.
The applicant specifically sought the marks obtained by selected candidates in each General Studies paper, their respective optional subject papers and the Personality Test.
Information was also sought on how different optional subjects had performed in terms of the marks secured by candidates.
The RTI applicant pointed out that the UPSC had publicly disclosed paper-wise marks of recommended candidates until the Civil Services Examination 2017. From CSE 2018 onwards, however, only aggregate marks were being made available.
According to the applicant’s contention, the change limited the ability of aspirants to study performance trends across individual papers and optional subjects.
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CIC Finds No Record Explaining 2018 Discontinuation
During the proceedings, the CIC examined whether there was a formal decision behind the discontinuation of the publication of paper-wise marks.
The commission noted that the DoPT was given a final opportunity to produce relevant records, including any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision or other document that could substantiate the decision to stop publishing detailed marks from 2018 onwards.
However, the DoPT failed to produce such a record.
The absence of a documented decision became a significant aspect of the CIC’s consideration of the matter. The commission observed that the practice had existed before 2018 but had subsequently been discontinued without a policy decision being available on record.
UPSC and DoPT Give Different Positions
The proceedings also highlighted a discrepancy between the positions of the UPSC and DoPT concerning the custody of detailed marks.
The UPSC informed the CIC that, after the final result is declared, it provides the detailed break-up of marks to the DoPT and LBSNAA.
The DoPT, on the other hand, maintained that the detailed marks are generated and maintained solely by the UPSC.
The differing responses raised questions about where the detailed records are maintained and which authority is responsible for their custody and disclosure.
The issue became particularly relevant because the RTI application sought detailed marks for multiple years and across individual components of the Civil Services Examination.
CIC Emphasises Transparency and Fairness
The CIC observed that detailed marks should be disclosed in the interest of transparency and fairness in the selection process.
The commission also noted the significance of paper-wise marks in the context of the structure of the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
Candidates are required to secure at least 10 per cent marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Mains examination. Against this backdrop, disclosure of individual paper marks can provide candidates and aspirants with greater visibility into performance across different components of the examination.
The commission’s observation was not limited to General Studies papers. It also highlighted the relevance of publishing marks secured in optional subjects.
Optional Subject Marks and Aspirant Choices
The CIC said disclosure of optional-subject marks could help Civil Services aspirants make more informed choices while selecting their optional papers.
The commission noted that in the absence of official paper-wise information, aspirants could become dependent on unreliable or unofficial sources for understanding how candidates perform across different optional subjects.
Making such information publicly available would therefore provide candidates with an official source of comparative data.
The issue is particularly relevant to aspirants attempting to analyse examination trends and understand the distribution of marks across subjects and papers.
CIC Directs Disclosure of CSE 2018-2023 Marks
As part of the directions in the RTI matter, the CIC directed the DoPT to provide the applicant with the detailed marks of recommended candidates for the Civil Services Examination from 2018 to 2023.
The information sought includes marks obtained in:
- Each General Studies paper
- Each optional subject paper
- The Personality Test
The direction would provide access to the detailed marks for the period during which paper-wise publication had ceased.
Advisory to Restore Earlier Practice
Beyond the individual RTI request, the CIC issued an advisory under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information Act.
The commission recommended reinstating the earlier practice of publishing detailed marks of recommended candidates.
The advisory noted that the practice had been followed before 2018 and was discontinued without a policy decision being available on record.
The CIC’s recommendation therefore goes beyond simply providing information to one RTI applicant. It calls for the restoration of a broader disclosure practice concerning the Civil Services Examination.
Why Paper-Wise Marks Matter to UPSC Aspirants
The publication of aggregate marks provides candidates with the overall score of recommended candidates, but paper-wise disclosure offers a more detailed picture of how those scores are built up.
For aspirants, such information can potentially help in analysing performance patterns across General Studies papers, optional subjects and the Personality Test.
It can also provide an official basis for examining trends in optional-subject performance rather than relying exclusively on coaching material, informal analyses or other unofficial sources.
The CIC’s recommendation has thus brought the question of detailed marks disclosure back into focus, particularly in the context of transparency in one of India’s most competitive recruitment examinations.
A Fresh Focus on Transparency in Civil Services Selection
The CIC proceedings have highlighted two separate but connected issues: the absence of a documented decision explaining the 2018 discontinuation of paper-wise marks publication and the differing accounts given by the UPSC and DoPT regarding custody of detailed marks.
The commission has now recommended that the earlier disclosure practice be restored and has directed the DoPT to provide detailed marks for CSE 2018 to 2023 in response to the RTI application.
For UPSC aspirants, the development could bring greater access to official paper-wise performance data, particularly on General Studies and optional subjects, while also placing renewed focus on transparency and record-keeping in the Civil Services Examination process.
