Hyderabad:A few candidates of the UPSC Civil Services mains examination, which commenced on Friday, faced infrastructural issues here, which they claimed had affected their performance in the crucial Paper I. For many, the series of unexpected inconveniences posed a distraction.At the Koti Women’s University, one of the examination centres, male candidates were seen queuing outside the washrooms, as the facilities were designed for women. “The washrooms weren’t equipped for men, and only a couple were demarcated for us, causing delays and confusion,” said a candidate who did not want to be named. Such situations, he added, could have been avoided with better planning.Another candidate, who travelled to the city by bus, expressed his shock at the lack of a cloakroom facility at the centre. “I arrived with my luggage and felt uneasy leaving my belongings unattended. We were told to deposit our mobile phones at our own risk, which was quite unsettling,” he said, describing the situation as scary and expressing concerns over the safety of valuables.Some candidates highlighted issues inside the examination halls. A student shared, “The lighting in the room was inadequate and the chairs had no proper backrest. To make matters worse, an official was seen struggling to fix a wobbly table right in the middle of the exam.”Such disturbances, they feared, could affect their performance. “This exam is one of the most important in our lives, and such conditions can lead to unnecessary distractions,” he added.Despite these disruptions, most candidates seemed relieved by the content of the paper I, which they found to be relatively straightforward. An IAS coach from the city observed, “The topics were interesting and not something that could have been easily predicted. However, CBSE and ICSE students might have had a slight edge due to the technical nature of some questions.”The UPSC civil services (main) examination will run till September 29.
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