UPSC Civil Services exam: CIC recommends paper-wise marks disclosure from 2018

In short

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) resume publishing detailed, paper-wise marks for Civil Services (Main) Examination candidates.
This recommendation follows the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) failing to provide formal records for discontinuing the practice from 2018 onwards.
The CIC has directed the DoPT to provide an RTI applicant with detailed marks for recommended candidates in CSE 2018 to 2023.
Paper-wise marks were publicly disclosed until the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2017, with only aggregate marks made available from CSE 2018.
The UPSC considers subject-wise marks as personal information, sharing them only with the DoPT and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended the reinstatement of detailed, paper-wise marks disclosure for candidates recommended in the Civil Services (Main) Examination. This recommendation, issued today, 26 September 2026, stems from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)’s inability to produce any formal record explaining the discontinuation of this practice from 2018 onwards.

The move aims to enhance transparency and fairness in the selection process, particularly benefiting aspirants who currently lack detailed performance trends across different optional subjects. The CIC has also directed the DoPT to provide specific data to a Right to Information (RTI) applicant.

Discontinuation of Paper-Wise Marks and RTI Application

The practice of publicly disclosing paper-wise marks for recommended candidates in the Civil Services (Main) Examination ceased after the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2017. From CSE 2018 onwards, only aggregate marks were made available to the public. This change led to an RTI application seeking comparative data on marks secured by recommended candidates in individual General Studies papers, optional subject papers, and the Personality Test over a 10-year period up to 2023.

The RTI applicant also sought information regarding the performance of different optional subjects looking at marks. The absence of this detailed paper-wise data has made it challenging for aspirants to assess performance trends and make informed decisions about optional subjects, often leading to reliance on unreliable sources, as observed by the CIC.

CIC’s Findings and Recommendation

During its review, the CIC noted that the DoPT failed to produce any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision, or other official record substantiating the discontinuation of detailed marks publication from 2018 onwards. This lack of formal explanation was a key factor in the CIC’s recommendation.

The CIC has issued an advisory under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, recommending the reinstatement of the earlier practice of publishing detailed marks. The Commission observed that disclosing marks obtained in optional subjects could significantly help aspirants make informed decisions and reduce their dependence on unverified information. Candidates are required to secure at least 10 per cent marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Civil Services (Main) Examination.

Data Custody and Disclosure Directives

There are differing positions between the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the DoPT regarding the custody of detailed marks. The UPSC informed the CIC that, after the declaration of the final result, the detailed break-up of marks is shared with the DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). However, the UPSC maintained that subject-wise marks are treated as personal information and are not disclosed publicly, except to the government or DoPT.

Conversely, the DoPT stated that the detailed marks are generated and maintained by the UPSC. Despite this, the CIC has directed the DoPT to provide the RTI applicant with the detailed marks of recommended candidates in each General Studies paper, optional subject paper, and the Personality Test for the Civil Services Examinations from 2018 to 2023. the CIC’s recommendation does not amount to an immediate change in UPSC’s public disclosure practice.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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