UPSC CSE Mains: CIC recommends disclosing paper-wise marks for selected candidates

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) restore the earlier practice of publicly disclosing detailed, paper-wise marks for candidates selected through the Civil Services (Main) Examination. This recommendation was issued today, 26 September 2026, as an advisory under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information Act.

The CIC’s recommendation stems from its observation that the DoPT could not produce any official record, such as a file noting or policy decision, to substantiate the discontinuation of detailed mark publication from the 2018 Civil Services Examination onwards. This change has limited the ability of civil services aspirants to examine performance patterns and assess trends associated with different optional subjects.

Background to the CIC’s Recommendation

The issue came before the Central Information Commission following a Right to Information (RTI) application. The applicant sought comparative details of marks secured by all candidates recommended for appointment through the Civil Services Examination over a 10-year period ending in 2023. This requested information included marks obtained in each General Studies paper, optional subject papers, and the Personality Test, with a specific interest in understanding how candidates with different optional subjects performed.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had publicly made paper-wise marks of recommended candidates available up to the Civil Services Examination 2017. However, from the Civil Services Examination 2018 onwards, only aggregate marks were being disclosed. The CIC noted that this discontinuation occurred without any available policy decision on record to substantiate the change, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the selection procedure.

Discrepancies in Mark Custody and Disclosure

During the proceedings, the CIC noted differing positions taken by the UPSC and the DoPT regarding the custody and maintenance of detailed marks. The UPSC informed the commission that, after the final result is declared, it provides the detailed break-up of marks to the DoPT and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

Conversely, the DoPT stated that the detailed marks are generated and maintained exclusively by the UPSC. Despite this, the DoPT was unable to produce any file noting, office memorandum, policy decision, or other official record documenting a formal decision to stop the disclosure of detailed marks from 2018. The CIC highlighted that without such records, the decision to discontinue publication appeared to be made without a clear policy basis, leading to candidates being “dependent on unreliable sources” for such information.

CIC Directs Dopt to Provide Marks and Recommends Policy Change

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to provide an RTI applicant with detailed marks obtained by recommended candidates for the Civil Services Examination years 2018 to 2023. This includes marks for each General Studies paper, optional subject paper, and the Personality Test. This directive addresses the specific 10-year period ending in 2023 that the RTI application sought.

Along with this directive, the CIC issued an advisory to the DoPT under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information Act on 26 September 2026. This advisory recommends reinstating the earlier practice of publicly disclosing detailed, paper-wise marks for selected candidates, a practice followed before 2018. The CIC noted that the discontinuation of this practice from 2018 onwards occurred without any available policy decision on record to substantiate the change, emphasizing the value of transparency and fairness in the selection process. Candidates are required to obtain at least 10 per cent marks in each of the seven competitive written papers in the Civil Services Main Examination.

Written by Nishit Kumar

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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