UPSC civil services Mains question paper (Express Photo) UPSC civil services Mains question paper (Express Photo)

A question in the General Studies Paper I in the ongoing Civil Services Main examination has triggered a debate on social media. “What are the challenges to our cultural practices in the name of secularism,” the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) asked the candidates. The question was of 10 marks.

While candidates are tweeting photos of the question paper, many are criticising the move calling it “fall of the great civil services”. Joining the debate, Kannan Gopinathan — the IAS officer who recently resigned from the services over the Kashmir issue — tweeted what would have been his answer had he appeared for the exam.

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Gopinathan wrote, “Indian secularism is a positive concept, taking along and encouraging all the cultural practices while instilling a scientific temper against superstitions and harmful practices.”, would have been the first sentence of my answer!”

"Indian secularism is a positive concept, taking along and encouraging all the cultural practices while instilling a scientific temper against superstitions and harmful practices.", would have been the first sentence of my answer! https://t.co/MUsCYlh0OZ — Kannan Gopinathan (@naukarshah) September 22, 2019

Leader of opposition, Kerala, Ramesh Chennithala has said, ‘It is ironic that UPSC finds the term secularism which is part of the preamble of our constitution, as challenging to Indian culture.

Its irony that the UPSC finds the term "secularism" which is part of the preamble of our Constitution, as challenging to Indian Culture.#StopSaffronisingConstitutionalBodies — Ramesh Chennithala (@chennithala) September 23, 2019

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Main exam started on September 20 and will continue till September 29. The exam is held to fill positions in various government departments including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) among others.

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