Wearing mask or face cover mandatory: UPSC to Civil Services Prelims aspirants

New Delhi: Wearing mask or face cover, adhering to Covid norms on social distancing and maintaining personal hygiene inside exam halls and premises will be mandatory for all candidates appearing for the civil services preliminary examination on Sunday, the UPSC has said.

Candidates, however, will have to remove their masks for verification, whenever required by the examination functionaries, it said in a series of instructions to the candidates.

Candidate may carry his/her own hand sanitizer (small size) in transparent bottle, said the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), that conducts the prestigious test.

"Wearing of mask/face cover is mandatory for all candidates. Candidates without mask/face cover will not be allowed entry into the venue," it said.

The civil services examination is conducted in three stages preliminary, main and interview to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.

The civil services preliminary exam 2021 is scheduled to be held on October 10.

"Candidates 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," the Commission said.

Faculty members providing training for clearing the civil services examination advised aspirants to rely on their preparation rather than panicking at the last moment.

"UPSC preliminary examination is scheduled for Sunday. Candidates must have a calm and composed mind as examination conditions have the ability to make brains run even faster. So, the candidates should have faith in their preparation rather than panicking in the last moments," said Smriti Shah, faculty (sociology and Indian society) at 'Vision IAS' coaching centre.