UPSC brings changes in online application process following complaints by civil services aspirants

New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced certain changes in its online application system for this year's civil services preliminary exam after aspirants complained of technical glitches while applying through it, according to an official notice.

It said that some entries have been made "editable" in the one-time registration for filling up of the online application.

"In view of the queries/difficulties raised by the candidates in filling up the online application form for the civil services examination, 2025, the Commission has decided the following changes in the one-time registration (OTR) for filling up of the online application," the UPSC said.

Accordingly, editable entries in the OTR profile "until the final submission of application and thereafter during the correction window" include "Have you ever changed name?", "Gender", "Minority Status" and "Class 10th Board Examination Roll No.", said the notice issued by the Commission.

The candidates are "not allowed to make any change(s) in the columns relating to "Name (as per Class X)", "Date of Birth", "Father’s Name", "Mother’s Name", "Mobile Number" and "Email ID" in the OTR profile, it said.

If a candidate has lost access to his/her registered mobile number but he/she has the access to his/her registered email ID, he/she can apply for change in the mobile number and in this case, an OTP will be sent to the registered email ID, the Commission said.

In case a candidate has lost access to his/her registered email ID but has the access to his/her registered mobile number, he/she can apply for change in the email ID and in this case, an OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number, it said.

However, if a candidate reports that he/she has lost access to his/her registered mobile as well as registered email ID, the candidate will have to send a request to the Commission for making necessary changes at the ([e-mail]) along-with matriculation certificate, Aadhaar card or PAN card or Passport or driving license, recent passport size photograph and an undertaking in a prescribed format, the notice said.

The UPSC also said that the eligible PwBD (person with benchmark disability) candidates, who wish to seek assistance of ‘own scribe’, will have to mandatorily provide their details for the preliminary exam.

"The PwBD candidates, who wish to seek assistance of ‘own scribe’ for the CS (Main) exam, may voluntarily indicate the scribe details for CS (Main) while applying for CS (prelim) exam.

"Such candidates may update/provide details of the ‘own scribe’ during the window, which will be made available to the candidates after the declaration of the result of CS (Prelim) Exam," it said.

The civil services examination is conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

The last date for registration for civil services preliminary exam 2025 and the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) test was also recently extended till February 18, 2025 ( till 6 pm). Earlier, the last date to apply for the exams online was February 11.

Candidates are required to apply online by using the website http://upsconline.gov.in.

According to the Commission's notice, in case a candidate’s name has changed and there is a mismatch with the name given in his/her matriculation or higher educational certificate, the candidate is required to submit a gazette notification to that effect.

"However, if the gazette notification is not available with them at present, they may upload the copy of the same during the window, which will be made available to the candidates after the declaration of the result of CS (Prelim) Exam," it said.

The changes come in the backdrop of the controversy involving former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who was accused of cheating, wrongly availing Other Backward Class (OBC) and disability quota benefits to ensure her selection in the government service. She has denied all allegations though.

The UPSC said that the candidates having integrated master’s degree (graduation and post graduation) may fill the same course in their graduation as well as higher qualification column.

"The candidates are advised to go through the entries made by them in relevant columns before finally submitting the same. It may be noted that after submission of the application, the changes/corrections, if any, in the entries in the application form, can be carried out only during the one week correction window...," the notice said.

A correction window will be open for applicants "till expiry of seven days" from the next day after the closure of application window i.e. from February 19 to 25.

The civil services preliminary examination is scheduled to be held on May 25.

The number of vacancies to be filled through the examination is expected to be approximately 979, including 38 vacancies reserved for persons with benchmark disability category.