By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, AUG 17, 2014: THE Govt has issued instructions for candidates taking Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2014, being conducted by the Union Public Service Commission on 24 August, 2014 who may note the following:-

1. The Paper II of the CSE (Preliminary) is of 200 marks and 2 hours duration. It contains a section on English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level). It contains some questions based on a few paragraphs in English.

2. The Union Government has decided that for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2014 to be held on 24th August, this section on English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level) will not count for gradation or merit.

3. The Paper-II would contain a section on English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level). Candidates must therefore note that they do not have to answer the questions on this English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level) section. These questions will not be evaluated.

4. However, the duration of the Paper II would remain 2 hours and candidates can utilize the entire time in answering all questions except those in the Section containing English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level).

5. The maximum marks for Paper II would be “200 minus the marks earmarked for the English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level)”.

6. Candidates must note that the section on English Language Comprehension Skills (Class X Level) would not count towards gradation or merit. Even if they attempt it, marks will not be counted for gradation or merit.