Opinion: IAS Puja Khedkar Row Questions Integrity Of UPSC; Reveals Uber-Aggressive Examination Can Be Rigged

For the previous few years, incidents of paper leaks have develop into frequent. Lakhs of scholars endure as a consequence of this, many lose hope, many alternatives as a consequence of age limits and examination cancellation and lots of stare at an unsure future. The paper leak difficulty gained prominence after Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a number of examination leaks inside a shorter span of time and it peaked when the distinguished medical entrance examination NEET-UG paper was leaked in Bihar and examination centres had been managed in Gujarat and Haryana. 

After NEET, the NET-UG exams got here below the scanner for paper leak, the latest incident of an IAS choice has raised critical query marks on the integrity of the distinguished Union Public Service Fee. The collection of Puja Khedkar has raised some critical questions not solely on the us examination but additionally on the panel which interviewed her and the official who issued a becoming a member of later to her overriding CAT ruling. The puja Khedkar incident reveals that even the us examination could be rigged and compromised. It additionally reveals that politicians and ex-civil servants can affect the interview of desired candidates. 

RTI replies obtained by a Maharashtra activist expose Puja Khedkar’s choice at a number of ranges. Her declare of falling into the OBC non-creamy layer can be below query. She can be accused of adjusting her OBC class. As per RTI replies, his father Dilip Khedkar, a retired authorities official, has belongings of over Rs 40 crore. Even Puja Khedkar has belongings price Rs 22 crore and an annual earnings of Rs 42 lakh, means greater than the non-creamy layer’s restrict of Rs eight lakh.

Coming to her incapacity claims. In 2021, she was chosen as Assistant Director in sport authority in OBC PwBD 1 however in 2023, she mysteriously modified her class PwBD1 to PwBD5 which she used to get chosen as IAS. She is going through allegations of fudging her Bodily Incapacity certificates in connivance with state authorities officers utilizing his father’s affect.

Whereas information interviews and viral movies of her mock interviews present that she is totally superb, Khedkar claimed that she of visually impaired and mentally unwell. Civil companies are prestigious posts and the IAS officers usually take care of many important conditions together with riots and stone pelting which requires fast determination making. How can an individual claiming to be mentally unwell develop into appropriate for such a put up? The Centre must revise the incapacity standards for choices within the civil companies. It is also being alleged that of the six medical checks scheduled at AIIMS Delhi to determine her incapacity, Khedkar half-attended solely the sixth and skipped the sooner 5 giving completely different causes. She additionally didn’t go below the MRI take a look at to determine her visible impairment. 

Plainly a mysterious hand is working on a regular basis supporting her choice. The 32-year-old IAS officer bought 841 rank within the civil companies examination below the OBC-PwBD5 quota. Whereas solely these securing a rank until 180 get an IAS posting, Puja Khedkar mysteriously bought the IAS put up regardless of a really low rank. Since she didn’t full all required steps together with the medical take a look at, the us had challenged her choice earlier than the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The CAT even dominated in opposition to her in February 2023. But she bought a becoming a member of letter months later. This allegedly reveals that some UPSC insiders helped her regardless of the CAT ruling bypassing the federal government. It’s being alleged that her father Dilip Khedkar used his affect with the assist of some large politicians. 

The allocation of the IAS posting to Khedkar, who allegedly deceived the system about her financial background and misrepresented her well being, has introduced shock to lakhs of scholars who work extraordinarily onerous yearly in seclusion sacrificing their household time, their social life regardless of failures ready for his or her subsequent try till they exhaust all choices. 

The Khedkar episode will reveal the true face of the federal government – will she be sacked and booked for fraud if discovered responsible or is she solely supplied punishment posting?  Her choice and the allegations surrounding her is a take a look at case for the federal government. For the reason that difficulty has shot to the limelight as a consequence of fixed media protection, the federal government has appointed a single-member panel to look into the allegations. Nonetheless, the information obtainable within the public area prima facie reveals she did her greatest to recreation the system and succeeded in her try. Now, it is as much as the federal government to convey the reality to the fore and restore the credibility of the us which is below scanner.