The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has postponed the civil service examinations (prelims) 2020. The revised date will be announced after reviewing the COVID-19 pandemic situation on May 20. The preliminary examinations were scheduled for May 31 and the admit cards were supposed to be released this week.

In a press release, the Commission stated that after reviewing the situation post the second phase of the nation-wide lockdown due to COVID-19, the Commission decided that it will not be possible to resume the civil service examinations and interviews for the present. It further states that since this examination also serves as the screening test for the Indian Forest Service Examination, the schedule for the Indian Forest Service Examination is also deferred. “The situation will be reviewed again on May 20, 2020 and fresh dates for these examinations shall be notified on the UPSC website in due course. As and when dates are decided for the deferred tests/examinations, it will be ensured that candidates are given a notice of at least 30 days,” read the release.

The Commission has already deferred the following: (a) Personality test for remaining candidates for the Civil Services Examination, 2019; (b) Notification for the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2020; (c) Notification for the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2020; (d) Notification for the Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2020 and (e) the NDA & Naval Academy Examination, 2020.

The civil services aspirants had requested to postpone the prelims exam due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown situation in the country. Apart from the Civil Services 2020 prelims examinations, UPSC will conduct engineering services main exam and geologist services main exam. An update on the upcoming and pending examinations including Junior Engineer (Paper-I) Examination, 2019, Stenographer Grade ‘C’ & ‘D’ Examination, 2019 and Skill Test for Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination, 2018, will be provided by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).