Karunanidhi urges PM Modi to postpone civil services (mains) exam

A day after the Centre announced that the Union Public Service Commission would conduct civil services (main) examination at 23 centres from December 18 to 23, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Saturday urged the Prime Minister to postpone the exam in view of heavy rain and floods in Chennai and nearby districts.

Karunanidhi said in a letter: “As one who has personally inspected the flood-affected areas in Chennai, you are quite aware of the devastating consequences of the heavy downpour and sudden unexpected floods. About 1,000 students in Chennai who are preparing for the examinations have been continuously facing innumerable problems due to incessant rain that started in November and continued till the first week of December.” He said: “Students of the state-run All India Civil Services Training Centre, Chennai, met me on Friday and a written representation has been enclosed for favour of your kind information and urgent action. While fully endorsing the representation, I kindly request you to sympathetically examine the representation to postpone the main examinations in view of the practical problems and difficulties detailed by the aspirants,” Karunanidhi said.