Govt to decide on aptitude test in a week

The Centre said on Friday that it would take a decision on the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) within a week while assuring Parliament that no injustice would be done to civil services aspirants on the basis of language.

It said that government has asked the committee looking into the issue to submit its report within a week.The assurance came following protests in both the Houses of Parliament which resulted in two adjournments in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

Though, Lok Sabha also witnessed ruckus, there was no adjournment.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that a committee to look into the issue was formed in March 2014 by UPA government. The panel was to submit its report in three months but it was given an extension of one month  after which the panel sought three more months.

“The government is not in favour of any injustice to students on the basis of language,” Singh said. The Opposition demanded statement from the Prime Minister or Leader of the House and asked for the withdrawal of online admit cards issued by the UPSC.

The minister said the admit card will not affect the decision of the government. In Rajya Sabha, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, SP leader Naresh Agrawal and Congress members raised the issue during Question Hour and Chairman Hamid Ansari was forced   to adjourn the House twice.

When the House resumed its proceeding after 12.00 pm, members cutting across party lines expressed anguish over the unrest prevailing among the aspirants of UPSC.

Satyabrat Chatuurvedi (Congress), Kanimozhi (DMK), D Raja (CPI), Tapan Sen (CPM), Derek O’ Brien (TMC), K Keshav Rao (TRS), Mukhtar Abbbas Naqvi and others spoke in favour of agitating civil services aspirants. Members from south were insistent upon parity of all languages without giving any prominence to Hindi.

 Congress member and former minister M S Gill created a controversy when he raised doubt about making all the languages as the medium of exam. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad clarified that this is not the view of the party.