UPSC Announces Centre-of-Choice Guarantee for PwBD Candidates in All Recruitment Exams

New Delhi. ; In a significant step toward making competitive examinations more inclusive, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced that candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) will now be assured of the exam centre of their choice for all UPSC recruitment examinations.

The reform aims to reduce the logistical and accessibility challenges often faced by PwBD aspirants, ensuring that travel limitations or distant centres do not add to the pressure of exam preparation.

Why the Policy Change Was Necessary

UPSC Chairperson Ajay Kumar explained that the decision was taken after a detailed review of exam centre allocation trends over the past five years. The analysis showed that popular centres—such as Delhi, Cuttack, Patna and Lucknow—tend to fill up quickly due to heavy demand from general candidates.

This left PwBD candidates with limited options, often compelling them to choose centres far from their hometowns, despite their specific accessibility needs.

Ajay Kumar noted,
“This creates challenges for PwBD candidates, who are then compelled to opt for centres that may not be convenient for them. I am pleased that every PwBD candidate will now be assured of their preferred centre, ensuring maximum convenience and ease while appearing for UPSC examinations.”

The Commission acknowledged that mobility constraints and travel-related difficulties disproportionately impact candidates with disabilities, making this policy shift necessary to uphold fairness and equal opportunity.

How the New Centre Allocation System Will Work

• Under the revised system:
• Both PwBD and non-PwBD candidates can select exam centres until capacity is reached.
• Once a centre becomes full, it will close for non-PwBD applicants.
• However, PwBD candidates will continue to have access to that centre even after capacity limits are reached.
• UPSC has committed to adding extra capacity and infrastructure wherever needed to fulfill every PwBD candidate’s preference.
• This ensures inclusivity without disturbing the overall seat allocation mechanism for the broader applicant pool.

What This Means for UPSC Aspirants

UPSC conducts major national-level examinations—including the Civil Services Examination—which attract lakhs of aspirants each year. For PwBD candidates, the guaranteed centre of choice is expected to ease logistical strain and provide a more equitable environment during one of India’s most competitive recruitment processes.

The move marks a transformative step in building an accessible, inclusive and supportive examination ecosystem, ensuring that disability does not hinder aspiration or opportunity in joining the nation’s premier administrative, police, revenue and diplomatic services.

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