The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) began the registration process for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024 this week, with the Prelims planned for May. The Commission has implemented stricter guidelines for uploading photos on registration forms. According to the revised standards, candidates must post images that are no more than 10 days old as of the commencement of the online application process. Candidates must ensure that the images are not shot before February 4, 2024.
While the rule has perplexed candidates, and some have labeled it an unnecessary lengthy and costly process, experts think it would regulate technology misuse and other associated scams during tests. In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the state has filed multiple cases against candidates for impersonating and technology-related crimes.
The Commission said that the name of the candidate and the date on which the photograph was taken must also be mentioned clearly on the photograph. The faces of the candidates should also occupy three-fourths of the space in the photograph, the official notification said.
The Commission has also advised candidates to ensure that their look matches their photograph at all stages of the examination process, including the preliminary, mains (written), and interview or personality test. For example, if an applicant uploads a bearded photograph, he must maintain the same appearance throughout the Preliminary, Mains (Written), and Interview/Personality Test. The same goes for spectacles, moustaches, and so on.
Candidates who wish to apply for the Civil Service Examination=Preliminary 2024 for about 1,056 open positions can do so by visiting the official website at upsc.gov.in and submitting an application form. Candidates who score higher than the cut-off marks in the CSE prelims will be able to register for the main test. The mains will be descriptive and take place over five days beginning September 20.
