UPSC allows blind candidates to use scribes

Candidates suffering from blindness and cerebral palsy will also get compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour for the exam. File photo

Candidates suffering from blindness, locomotor disability and cerebral palsy can use scribes to write civil services preliminary and main examination, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has said.

Such candidates will also get compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour for the exam.

“Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances, will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them.

“However, blind candidates and candidates with locomotor disability and cerebral palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is affected to the extent of slowing the performance of function (minimum of 40 per cent impairment) will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe in both the civil services (preliminary) as well as in the civil services (main) examination,” the UPSC said.

Extra 60 minutes for IFS exam

However, those appearing in Indian Forest Service (IFS) examination will get additional 60 minutes for each paper.

“Low vision candidates (minimum 40 per cent impairment) will be allowed to write the examination with the help of a scribe.

“Low vision candidates will also be allowed an extra time of sixty minutes for each paper at the rate of twenty minutes per hour. Each paper will be of three hours duration,” said the commission in a corrigendum issued for IFS examination, 2015.

“Since there may be common candidates for civil services examination and the Indian Forest Service examination, after the common screening test done through civil services preliminary examination, separate lists will be prepared for the candidates eligible to appear in the civil service (Main) examination and Indian Forest Service (Main) examination,” it said.