UPSC: Masks mandatory for candidates taking civil services preliminary exam on Oct 4

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday said that wearing masks or face covers is mandatory for candidates appearing for the civil services (preliminary) examination scheduled for October 4.

The candidates will be allowed to bring their own hand sanitizers in transparent bottles, it said.

The civil services examination is held annually in three stages — preliminary, main and interview — by the UPSC to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

“Wearing of mask/face cover is mandatory for all candidates. Candidates without mask/face cover will not be allowed entry into the venue. Further, candidates are allowed to bring their own hand sanitizer in transparent bottles,” the Commission said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Students will have to follow COVID-19 norms of ‘social distancing’ as well as ‘personal hygiene’ inside the examination halls/rooms as well as in the premises of the venue, it said.