The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is moving decisively into the digital era to safeguard the integrity of India’s civil services exams.

UPSC Chairperson Ajay Kumar announced on Wednesday that, going forward, all caste, disability, and income certificates submitted by candidates will only be accepted via DigiLocker, the government’s secure cloud-based platform.

The initiative comes in the wake of high-profile controversies, including the case of former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, accused of misusing OBC and disability certificates and falsifying identities.

Khedkar’s candidature for the 2022 Civil Services Examination was cancelled in 2024, and she was barred from future exams. The Department of Personnel and Training subsequently discharged her from the IAS, though she is contesting the decision in court.

Addressing aspirants during a virtual town hall streamed on Doordarshan as part of UPSC’s centenary celebrations, Kumar emphasized the Commission’s uncompromising stance: “We have zero tolerance for cheating. Any candidate caught is suspended from examinations for at least three years, and criminal misconduct is referred for legal action.”

Explaining the shift to DigiLocker, Kumar noted, “Questions often arise about whether submitted certificates are genuinely issued by the authorities. By using DigiLocker, we ensure authenticity and maintain trust in the selection process.”

The town hall also addressed aspirants’ concerns on age limits, number of attempts, and perceived advantages for engineering graduates. Kumar clarified there are no changes planned for age criteria or attempts, and stressed that the exam remains balanced across disciplines.

He highlighted that “80-90 percent of selected candidates come from Tier 2 and 3 cities and rural areas,” countering perceptions of bias.

With DigiLocker integration, UPSC aims to make cheating nearly impossible, reinforcing the credibility of one of India’s most prestigious examinations.