Puja Khedkar is a probationary IAS officer from the 2023 batch who is currently at the center of a significant controversy. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has taken serious action against her, including filing an FIR and issuing a show cause notice for the cancellation of her candidature. Khedkar has been given two weeks to respond to these allegations.
According to the UPSC's investigation, Khedkar has appeared for civil services examinations a total of twelve times since 2012. This excessive number of attempts violates the established rules on the allowed attempts for candidates. Furthermore, she is accused of faking her identity by altering her name, her parents' names, her photograph, signature, address, email, and phone number.
UPSC has set specific rules regarding the number of attempts allowed for various categories of candidates:
In addition to the identity fraud allegations, Khedkar has submitted disability and OBC certificates, raising further questions about her claims. Reports indicate that she allegedly harassed officers during her probation period in Pune. As a result, the Maharashtra government has recalled her from her district training to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie.
This case has significant implications for the verification processes employed by the UPSC and the Department of Personnel and Training. It highlights critical issues surrounding identity fraud and the abuse of reservation policies within India's civil services examination system. The situation demonstrates the challenges faced in ensuring the authenticity of candidates' credentials and enforcing limits on examination attempts.
The investigation into Puja Khedkar serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent verification processes in competitive examinations. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial for the UPSC to address these concerns and reinforce trust in the integrity of the civil services selection process.
Q1. What is the case against Puja Khedkar about?
Answer: Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, is facing allegations of identity fraud and violating UPSC's examination attempt rules after appearing for civil services exams twelve times.
Q2. How many attempts are allowed for UPSC exams?
Answer: The UPSC allows 6 attempts for the general category, 9 for OBC and PwD candidates, and unlimited attempts for SC/ST candidates until the age limits specified.
Q3. What actions has the UPSC taken against Khedkar?
Answer: The UPSC has filed an FIR against her, issued a show cause notice for the cancellation of her candidature, and provided her with two weeks to respond to the allegations.
Q4. Why was Khedkar recalled from district training?
Answer: Khedkar was recalled from her training at LBSNAA due to allegations of harassment against officers during her probation period in Pune.
Q5. What are the implications of this case for UPSC?
Answer: The case raises critical concerns about the verification processes in UPSC and highlights issues of identity fraud and the enforcement of examination attempt limits.
Question 1: How many times can a General category candidate attempt the UPSC exams?
A) 6 attempts
B) 9 attempts
C) Unlimited attempts
D) 12 attempts
Correct Answer: A
Question 2: Who conducts the civil services examination in India?
A) SSC
B) UPSC
C) IBPS
D) RRB
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: What was a significant action taken against Puja Khedkar by the UPSC?
A) Awarding her a scholarship
B) Filing an FIR
C) Promoting her position
D) None of the above
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: Which body oversees the reservation policies in civil services exams?
A) Ministry of Education
B) UPSC
C) Ministry of Home Affairs
D) NITI Aayog
Correct Answer: B
Question 5: What is the maximum age limit for SC/ST candidates to attempt UPSC exams?
A) 32 years
B) 35 years
C) 37 years
D) 42 years
Correct Answer: C
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