Bias in UPSC interviews—why candidates aren’t satisfied with randomised board allocation

New Delhi: After questions in Parliament about alleged “strict” or “biased” interview boards, the Union Public Service Commission has issued a defence of its interviews—known as personality tests—insisting that they are structured to prevent discrimination of any kind. The UPSC says interview board members are kept unaware of a candidate’s social category and written-exam score, and that allocation of boards is randomised moments before the interaction begins.

“Thus, the question of discrimination or bias in interviews against any category of candidates does not arise,” t he Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in a statement .

The rare clarification follows weeks of debate among aspirants . M any say lived experience tells a more complicated story—from pane