UPSC asks in Civil Services exam: ‘What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism’

UPSC in Civil Services Examination (CSE) Main 2019 asked a question on challenges faced due to secularism attracting heavy backlash from people in politics, civil services and aspirants alike.

UPSC CSE Main 2019, UPSC, upsc civil services main question paper, upsc.gov.in, upsc secularism, employment news, govt jobs, sarkari naukri, sarkari naukri result, indian exapress news

UPSC civil services Mains question paper (Express Photo)

A question in the General Studies Paper I in the ongoing Civil Services Main examination has triggered a debate on social media. “What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism,” the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) asked the candidates. The question was of 10 marks.

While candidates are tweeting photos of the question paper, many are criticising the move calling it “fall of the great civil services”. Joining the debate, Kannan Gopinathan — the IAS officer who recently resigned from the services over the Kashmir issue — tweeted what would have been his answer had he appeared for the exam.

Read| Questions on artificial intelligence in UPSC CSE Main, more focus on analytical skills

Story continues below this ad

Gopinathan wrote, “Indian secularism is a positive concept, taking along and encouraging all the cultural practices while instilling a scientific temper against superstitions and harmful practices.”, would have been the first sentence of my answer!”

"Indian secularism is a positive concept, taking along and encouraging all the cultural practices while instilling a scientific temper against superstitions and harmful practices.", would have been the first sentence of my answer! https://t.co/MUsCYlh0OZ

— Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) September 22, 2019

Leader of opposition, Kerala, Ramesh Chennithala has said, ‘It is ironic that UPSC finds the term secularism which is part of the preamble of our constitution, as challenging to Indian culture.

Its irony that the UPSC finds the term "secularism" which is part of the preamble of our Constitution, as challenging to Indian Culture.#StopSaffronisingConstitutionalBodies

— Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) September 23, 2019

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Main exam started on September 20 and will continue till September 29. The exam is held to fill positions in various government departments including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) among others.

For all latest Govt Jobs 2019, Railway Jobs, Bank Jobs, and SSC Jobs Notification log on to IndianExpress.com. We bring you fastest and relevant notifications on Bank, Railways and Govt Jobs. Stay Connected.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

Amid Mahagathbandhan crisis, RJD unveils list of 143, drops 36 MLAs, focuses on ‘M-Y’

Political Pulse2 hr ago

The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS