ArdorComm Media News Network
May 6, 2026
The Central Information Commission has advised the Department of Personnel and Training to consider adding sub-caste information in the final result lists of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, saying it could improve transparency and help evaluate whether reservation benefits are reaching a wider range of communities within larger caste groups.
The recommendation was made while hearing a second appeal under the RTI Act. The applicant had sought caste-wise data of candidates selected to the Indian Administrative Service through the 1995 UPSC examination.
During the proceedings, DoPT informed the commission that service allocation records are maintained only under broad categories such as SC, ST and OBC, and not by sub-caste. Officials also said records from 1995 could not be located.
The department further stated that candidate allocation lists with category details from Civil Services Examination 2017 onwards are already available on its official portal.
While noting that such granular data is currently unavailable, the commission observed there is reasonable scope to include sub-caste information in future disclosures. It said publishing this data alongside broader reservation categories could help ensure affirmative action policies benefit a more diverse section of eligible communities.
The CIC, however, found no lapse in the response provided by the public authorities in this specific RTI matter and closed the appeal.
Source: PTI