For Imphal applicants amid violence UPSC offers other centers

New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has decided to offer alternative centers to candidates who were allotted a center in Manipur’s Imphal for the civil services preliminary examination to be held on May 28.

Parts of Manipur witnessed communal violence earlier this month that claimed more than 70 lives, injured scores and displaced thousands.
An official statement issued by UPSC said that the option of change of center will be available to such candidates through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) facility.

In this regard, a message will be sent to each candidate on his mobile number registered with the Commission.

It said candidates should use their registered mobile number to avail this facility through IVRS.
The statement said that after a careful review of the situation in the state of Manipur in consultation with the state administration, the commission has decided to offer alternative centers to the candidates of Imphal (Manipur) center for Civil Services Preliminary Examination, 2023. What is the decision?

It said the alternative centers are Aizawl (Mizoram), Kohima (Nagaland), Shillong (Meghalaya), Dispur (Assam), Jorhat (Assam), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Delhi.
The Civil Services Examination is conducted every year by UPSC in three stages – Prelims, Mains and Interview – for selection of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.

Clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in 10 hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence preceded tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which led to a series of smaller protests.
At least 73 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, burned down in the ethnic violence that rocked the state, officials said.

The commission said that the candidate can contact UPSC at any district administration office of Manipur state on 011-23070641, 23381073, 23384508 and 23387876 on 17 May 2023 from 12 noon to 5 pm. he said.
The data of all these candidates will be with the district administration. The district administration will allow the candidate to call the above helpline telephone numbers of UPSC to avail the facility of change of centre.

Further, the option of change of centers for such candidates will also be available on the UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in) round the clock from 17 May 12 noon to 19 May 2023 5 pm,he said.
The option to change the examination center is also available to candidates who have downloaded their e-admit cards so far, the statement said.

“On receipt of center change options from the aspirant candidates through any of the above methods, they will be allotted the center locations of their choice and accordingly, their new e-admit cards will be issued. A message confirming the change of centers will be sent to each such candidate on his registered mobile number.
The latest e-admit card will be available for download from the UPSC website.

Additionally, these e-admit cards will be available at the state headquarters as well as district headquarters for collection by the candidates. Additionally, e-admit cards will also be delivered to candidates’ residences through post offices.