Gujarat HC lets 2024 UPSC candidate appear for 2025 IFS interview

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has directed the Union Public Service Commission to allow Jaymin Patel, a 2024 batch candidate, to appear for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) oral interview being held for the 2025 batch. This was decided after the court opened a sealed cover and found that he had "qualified" after clearing the written examination.Patel has been contesting the evaluation of one answer in the 2024 UPSC preliminary examination, involving 2.06 marks. He is seeking selection to the IFS. The general category cut-off for qualifying for the mains was 100.35 marks, while Patel had secured 98.29. He argued that if his answer to Question No. 25 had been treated as correct, he would have qualified for the mains. Patel moved the HC challenging the UPSC's answer-key and sought directions to the commission to rectify its mistake and grant him 2.06 marks, which were enough to push him to another round of exams. The court had earlier prima facie found that the case was in his favour and allowed him to appear in the Mains examination held in Nov 2025 for the 2025 batch. His result was kept in a sealed cover pending the case. When the sealed cover was opened in court on Monday, it showed that Patel was declared qualified after the written test. Patel's counsel then sought permission for him to appear in the oral interview. UPSC opposed the request, arguing that Patel had crossed the age limit for the 2025 batch. Justice Nirzar Desai rejected that objection and directed UPSC to permit Patel to appear in the interview and complete all required formalities as if he were "duly qualified for the 2025 batch". The court said Patel's shortfall of 2.06 marks should not prevent him from being considered for the interview, especially since he had cleared the written examination. The high court also ordered that Patel's interview result be kept in a sealed cover and opened only when UPSC declares the final result for all candidates. It directed authorities not to create any obstacle in the process and said that if the online portal is closed, Patel may submit a physical application. The court also took an undertaking from Patel that even if he clears the interview, he will not claim any right or equity to the post. His final position will depend on the outcome of the pending petition challenging the answer key's correctness. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on June 23.