There has been a lot of discussion about how the opposition is not being allowed a voice to ‘oppose’ policies in the Parliament but there was one Member of Parliament who did get a say in today’s session - Advocate P Wilson, from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Wilson spoke up about the difficulties that UPSC aspirants will face if the government decided to hold the exams in the midst of a pandemic and demanded that they be postponed to a date when it will be safe for people to be outside their homes again.

Wilson pointed out that the exams scheduled to be held from October 4 are only competitive exams, which meant that it wasn’t time-bound like a qualifying exam. Speaking to Edex, the Rajya Sabha MP said, “There are no time constraints for this exam. It is not a qualifying exam, so what is the hurry to conduct the exams at a time when COVID cases are shooting through the roof?” Another point that the MP from Tamil Nadu raised was the fact that 50 percent of vacancies are not yet filled up in each department in the Central Government including the Civil Services, “These seats have been lying vacant for more than a year.”

Wilson said that the ‘heavens will not fall down’ if the exams are not held right away, “Competitive exams like UPSC Civil Service exams, Staff Selection Commission exams and other competitive exams can be postponed until normalcy is restored.” The advocate has spoken up for students in the past as well and was at the forefront for demands for proper OBC implementation in medical seats in the country. He said that the government must take into consideration that those aspiring for these jobs, have been preparing for these exams for years, “After preparing so long and hard, why should we push them to attempt these exams in a situation that is already causing a lot of mental stress for people. Putting these aspirants and their guardians in harm’s way when there is no pressing need to conduct these exams?” he asks. 

I said more than 50% of post are vacant for one year and heavens will not fall down if exams are postponed.

I also gave a representation in person to Hon’ble Minister@DrJitendraSingh .

DMK President Hon’ @mkstalin asked me to take up this issue of postponing exams.#SSC pic.twitter.com/GF2MBlLXs3
— P. Wilson (பி. வில்சன்). “Believe in Yourself”.