Srinagar, May 27: The number of Muslim applicants who passed the country’s most competitive test increased by 3% this year, according to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The number of Muslims who have passed the UPSC examinations vary from year to year. In 2022, 29 Muslim applicants passed the test, accounting for nearly 3% of all successful candidates. This is a tiny rise from the previous year, when 25 Muslim hopefuls passed the test. Since 2016, Muslim applicants have performed well in the coveted tests. Previously, they made up just 2.5% of all successful applicants.
According to sources at the Minority Affairs Ministry, there has been a “progressive improvement in the performance of Muslim candidates over the last four years.”
A member of the minority affairs committee hailed it as “a big feat because the number used to remain around 2.5 percent until recently.”
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration enhanced the budget allocation for minority group candidates taking the UPSC test. The budget for giving free and subsidised coaching to minority candidates was increased from Rs 8 crore to Rs 20 crore in the 2019-2020 budget.
This funding boost was made possible via the ‘Support for students passing prelims conducted by UPSC, SSC, State Public Service Commissions, etc.’ initiative. This funding increase indicates the government’s attempts to assist and empower minority candidates in their UPSC test preparations.
Despite the difficulties, numerous Muslim applicants have passed the UPSC examinations and gone on to successful careers in the Indian government.
These candidates serve as an example to other Muslims, demonstrating that it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve success. The rise of successful Muslim candidates may be linked to a variety of causes, including increased awareness, educational programmes, and the efforts of Muslim community hopefuls.
This year, 13 applicants from Jammu and three from Kashmir qualified for the renowned test.
