New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the conducting body of Civil Services examination in India, has opposed transparency in the Civil Services selection process saying that it would increase the probability of dummy candidates appearing for the examination.

The Delhi High Court had earlier directed the UPSC to reveal the cut-off marks obtained by candidates in the preliminary test of the Civil Services examination.

It also dismissed the UPSC's apprehension that by disclosing the working of the scaling methodology for the preliminary examination, merit can be compromised and candidates with less merit would be selected. It said: "We are of the view that the apprehension of UPSC is not well founded."

The UPSC has also challenged this order with the Supreme Court saying that the availability of raw marks and scaled marks would reduce the Civil Services examination to a play field of strategies developed by coaching institutes.

A lot of freedom has been given to students in selecting optional subjects. Furthermore, it is also not necessary for students to be a graduate in a particular subject in order to choose that subject.

According to sources from UPSC, "A candidate can select different subjects in different attempts. Since the preliminary exam is only to screen for serious candidates out of a large pool, they are not required to submit any proof of the details they fill in the application".

Although, a constitutional Bench issued notice to 22 students on whose petition the High Court had infused transparency in the examination, it refused to stay implementation of that order. This means that by the time the High Court comes to a final decision, the UPSC will be bound under the RTI Act to declare the marks secured by candidates.