Increasing percentage of Muslims in Civil services is being shown as ‘UPSC Jihad.’ Urdu literature as an optional subject and Language is being targeted by distorting facts and figures. Very recently Sudarshan Channel, in one of its programmes, has claimed the rate of success for candidates who opt for Urdu is disproportionately high when compared to other languages.
According to a news item published in Opindia.com on 12 September, Suresh Chavhanke, Editor –in-Chief of Sudarshan Chanel, said during Sudarshan News’ first episode on ‘UPSC Jihad’:
- That “the rate of success for candidates who opt for Urdu is disproportionately high when compared to other languages. For instance, in the year 2011, the success rate for Urdu candidates was 40.9% while the same for Sanskrit and Hindu were 11.8% and 13.1% respectively. In 2017, the success rates for Urdu, Sanskrit and Hindu were 19.2%, 7.1% and 7.1% respectively.”
But looking at the data available from UPSC’s Annual reports for 5 years from 2013 to 2017, following observations can be made which rubbish the claim made by Suresh Chavhanke.
Language Appeared and Selected candidates
- Bengali——– 4/22 ———– 18.1%
- English——— 13/126 ——— 10.3%
- Kannada——– 63/593——– 10.6%
- Manipuri——— 12/83———–14.4%
- Tamil————- 56/485———–11.5%
- Urdu———— 19/156———– 12.1%
Percentage of Selected candidates or the success ratio of Urdu Language is more or less same if we compare it with other literature subjects.
- Undue advantage is being given to Urdu Optional Subject in Mains examination marking.
If we analyse the maximum marks scored by selected candidates in last 5 years, maximum marks scored by the selected candidates fall in the range of 230 to 297. In 2017 one candidate scored maximum marks 297 and few others got in the range of 280 to 260s.
Comparing this with other literature optional subjects, candidates are known to score maximum up to 330 and 325 marks in Tamil, Hindi, Marathi and other such subjects. Average marking in these subjects also varies from 250 to 310, comparing it 230 to 270 in Urdu Literature optional subject in Mains examination.
This shows Urdu at Disadvantage in terms of maximum marks scored by selected candidates and average marks obtained by candidates. No candidate scored more than 300 marks in Urdu literature optional subject since the arrival of new pattern from 2013.
- Identity of Muslims remains intact in neutral UPSC examination as paper setter, evaluator and aspirant all are from the same background.
The same logic goes for other subjects like Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit and other regional languages. Where those setting paper, evaluating answers and awarding marks speak same language, belong to same region and have liking for particular language or subject.
Whereas in case of Urdu, it is not necessary, that all persons belong to same religion, region or background. Many distinguished faculties, Urdu professors and teachers are from Punjab, Allahabad, and Patna, Jawaharlal Nehru, Delhi and such other universities. And they all are from different religions, regions and backgrounds.
This, in brief, shows that Urdu Language is actually at disadvantage in current UPSC marking scheme and those ensuring selection are doing so by scoring maximum marks in General studies, essay and interview which is similar for each candidate appearing into UPSC examination.
[The writer qualified 2017 UPSC CSE with All India Rank of 326]