In a major development to end the row over the alleged language bias in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, the Centre on Monday clarified that marks of English language skills should not be included in merit.

The move is a slight climbdown by the Centre following the massive protests by Civil Services aspirants and Parliamentarians who have accused the UPSC of bias against those from rural, Hindi and regional language background.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha that all the aspirants who appeared for the Civil Services Examination from 2011 would get one more more attempt in 2015.

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is scheduled for August 24. But it is still to be seen if the move is acceptable to the UPSC as well as protesting aspirants.  Read more