(a) whether Arabic and Persian languages have been excluded
from the competitive examinations conducted by the UPSC;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is reviewing its decision in this
regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the reasons for exclusion of both these languages from the
competitive examinations; and
(f) the details of basis or criterion for inclusion or exclusion of
language in the list of languages?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b) to (f): A committee was constituted by Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) in December, 2011 under the chairmanship of Prof. Arun S.Nigavekar,
former Chairman, UGC to review the then existing system of Civil Services (Main)
Examination.
The scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination underwent some changes from Civil
Services Examination (CSE) – 2013, on the basis of recommendations of the Nigavekar
Committee and the recommendations of UPSC thereupon.
While sending its recommendations the Commission inter-alia proposed to keep the
literatures of only those languages in the list of subjects to be available as an
optional in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination, which are presently
included in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India, besides English. This
recommendation of the UPSC was approved by the Government.
The Persian and Arabic language not being a part of the languages included in the 8th
Schedule of the Constitution of India do not figure in the list of language subjects.
Presently, there is no proposal to review the above decision.