PwBD: Many see cracking the UPSC Civil Services Exam as a case of an impossible dream, and if you are someone living with a debilitating depression or mental illness, you may perceive this correctly.
What aspirants do not realise is this: Mental illnesses including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and OCD, are regarded as a disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. If your condition is certified to cause 40% or more disability, you are eligible to apply under PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) Category 4.
When you apply under PwBD – Category 4, you get a number of benefits:
Reserved Seats: There are reserved seats for PwBD candidates under HS – 4. In total there are 4% reserved seats for PwBDs under the Civil Services.
Lower Cut-Off: The cut-off for PwBD candidates are much lower. For example, the final cut-off for ‘general’ was 960 in 2022 and for ‘PwBD-4’ the cut-off was 835.
Extra Exam Assistance: You may get extra time, scribe assistance and any other assistance required during the exam.
Age & Attempt Relaxation: Relaxation for age and number of attempts – the same as those offered to other reserved categories.
If you want to take advantage of these provisions, you need to have valid benchmark disability certificate:
– Get diagnosed by a psychiatrist at a government hospital.
– Participate in a formal disability assessment process that includes using a tool like the IDEAS scale.
– If you qualify for a disability of ≥40%, you will be issued a certificate to utilize for competitive exam purposes.
When you complete the UPSC application form, you will check “Yes,” in the PwBD section and upload your certificate.
Having a mental illness does not disqualify you; instead, it qualifies you for assistance. So, if you are dealing with depression and you still dream of being an IAS officer, please remember- you have rights, you have a system that will support you, and you have a real chance.
Get a certificate. Begin your preparation. Your, UPSC journey is not over; it is protected.
Also Read: Group-1 Mains Results Cancelled by TGPSC
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