UPSC IAS SCAM: Did IAS Puja Khedkar Compromise the UPSC Selection Process?
ASHISH Gupta
11 min read
- goverment scam
- UPSC Scam
A new controversy begins in India, again Indiais on eye because of a highly trusted and successful exams like upsc (Union Public Service Commission) has failed to exclude unfit students like Puja Khedkar how they find loop hole and how she bypass the cutt-off to clear upsc exams for civil services like IAS (Indian Administrative Service). In this blog post we'll see how she miss-used upsc selection rule by taking advantage of her government connection and gender inequality. let's start.
Introduction
At a time when every entrance exam is full of scams, kids are protesting for NEET, the matter has reached the Supreme Court, the government has to give an explanation, at the same time, the world's most difficult examination is being questioned, fingers are being raised on UPSC. Are the UPSC examinations transparent? Is the IAS recruitment foolproof? Or is the system being manipulated? This question is getting more and more serious. Because of, meet Puja Khedkar. In the last 24 hours, her past and present, everything is being examined.what is being seen, people's trust in UPSC, in IAS officer, can be completely broken. This is a serious issue.
Allegations Against IAS Officer Puja Khedkar
She joined as a probationer officer. Khedkar started her demands as soon as joined. asking for VIP number plate for her Audi car Apparently, this number plate was provided to them by a contractor. The service rule clearly prohibits you from taking a favor from a private contractor. Whether it is a number plate or a vehicle that is being used in government work. It is completely prohibited. She bypassed the regulation using her influence. She even put a beacon light on luxury Audi despite being probationary officer She is an IAS officer... should get the benefit. What's the point if cannot use beacon light? If it was just about the light or number plate, it wouldn't have mattered. We have accepted and normalized all these things. But probationary IAS officer Khedkar tried to take away Ajay More's chamber. by saying she is an IAS officer so chamber is hers Also ordered to arrange peon staff for her Right. What's the point of being IAS if one cannot have their own staff? Along with this, letterhead demand, visiting card, paperweight, nameplate, royal seal, intercom and so on The demands were fulfilled, no one would say anything because father is senior retired officer He put pressure on the district collectorate office to fulfill the demands otherwise Because of this, a complaint was lodged against Khedkar The complaint went to the State Chief Secretary. And the government transferred from Pune to the Washim But still, this question- according to the rules, a probationary officer is not given posting in the home district and its surrounding But here too, the rules were bent. Reach is too much PMO has asked for a report on this. Also, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, where they are trained has also asked for a report that what this new probationary officer did that she got transferred The news is that Puja Khedkar entered the cabin of Maharashtra's Chief Secretary without permission. This is the attitude of the IAS officer. It's been only 2-3 minutes of the story and the noodles are not even cooked properly But you have understood one thing that how far was the woman IAS and her papa's reach? But this is a trailer. Khedkar's actions could expose a big scam in IAS. Now the government has to find out whether this is a one off case or it has become a system. If media reports are to be believed then Khedkar does not need to be IAS officer to serve country have their own money that she can help people. But it is true that many join the IAS officer system for their own benefit and for the benefit of their bank balance If media reports to be believed then Khedkar has 110 acre agriculture land, 6 plots, flat, 1 kg gold, watch costing 17 lakh, 4 luxury cars including that Audi. Private companies have partnerships. Personal assets of 17-20 crores.
Questionable Selection Process
Investigations led to the 2022 selection list, where Pooja Khedkar's name was found at the 821st rank under the OBC reservation category. Additionally, she was listed under the Multiple Disabilities (MD) column, indicating she had a disability certificate. This allowed her to secure an IAS position despite her lower rank.
In a mock interview by Unacademy, Pooja Khedkar revealed that she is also a doctor (MBBS). Her father's background also came to light; he is a former civil servant with assets worth around 40 crores as declared in an election affidavit. This raised questions about her OBC and disability status.
Further investigations revealed discrepancies in her medical and disability claims. Despite being summoned for medical checks at AIIMS six times, she did not attend and instead provided an MRI report from a private center. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) initially ruled against her, but this decision was later overturned, allowing her appointment to stand. This raised suspicions of possible powerful influence.
Her father's election affidavit and substantial assets indicated that she should be in the OBC creamy layer, which does not qualify for reservation benefits. Despite this, she utilized the OBC certificate, raising questions about the integrity of the selection process.
Violation of Rules and Nepotism
Maharashtra IAS officer Dr. Puja Khedkar use a fake certificate for selection in IAS? Khedkar gave disability and other backward class OBC certificates to get entry in IAS which are now in the range of suspicion. All these certificates, all the excuses given, why and how is it necessary to understand that this has become a system for some people. Because it is possible that this route has been made a dunki and more people have become IAS officers like this If you see the submitted documents in Central Administrative Tribunal or CAT then Khedkar gave UPSC exam under OBC and under visually impaired categories On top of that, she gave a mental illness certificate to UPSC It's possible. This normal looking Khedkar faced the challenges and then defeated the challenges and became an IAS officer. But then the story gets a twist. In UPSC, in the OBC blind category, qualifying marks are less So, Khedkar gets selected. After selection, she is called to AIIMS Delhi for verification for disability certificate. You submitted a certificate, it will be verified. This is a standard protocol. But she doesn't agree for medical test. Not because she was afraid of needles. Because Covid was going on at that time. And Covid has become a big excuse for many. No problem. Better to be safe than sorry. AIIMS also said, you are going to become an IAS officer. We will listen to you. You can come later. AIIMS called later again, and again called 5 times. But Khedkar refused to go 5 times. You must think that the story is over. Now comes another shocker Khedkar made a fake disability verification report from a local private hospital. And then she joins Pune as a probationary officer. Now, UPSC raised a red flag regarding this that how can a certificate of a private hospital be valid? But even then she gets joining orders for Pune. The certificate that should not have been accepted and Pune where there was no chance of service step by step, rules are made fun of everywhere. This raises question that - does UPSC selection process have political influence, Nepo influence, that whole system has been compromised? And if it has been compromised, what will an honest officer think? That this is why I was selected? So, I will also do something. When person lies then tries to hide it But in our society, lying has become such a cool fashion that people enjoy the mother system of the system and then it is discussed at the dinner table.
Financial Discrepancies
Khedkar gave UPSC, appeared under OBC category where there is a limitation of creamy layer certificate, means annual parental income of 8 lakh rupees. You can apply if income is below this but Papa Dilip Khedkar, who retired as a senior Maharashtra government officer, his total wealth is 40 crores. not said, but 40 crores is officially because he fought the election and filled in affidavit Fought for Prakash Ambedkar's VBA party, so it is official figure. Unofficially, his wealth could be more.. So, here too, the rules were broken Puja Khedkar comes from strong administrative family background and they know the system and how to break the system Papa Dilip Khedkar is commissioner of pollution department Her maternal grandfather was also an IAS officer. Mother was a sarpanch. In a mock interview, she told that her father is a divorced man and she lives with her mother But Papa did not mention any such separation in his affidavit. After watching her answers in mock interview, I feel I am no less than SRK Khedkar has been shifted to Washim in the role of supernumerary assistant collector Basically punishment posting, but more punishment should be there This whole case has raised questions which government must answer otherwise doubts will create on UPSC system The red beacon light culture is now widespread in the IAS Even probationary officers are demanding for a car, a light, a servant Do some training for this. The relationship between money and IAS is so deep that they are asking for plate numbers from contractors.
Systemic Issues Highlighted
UPSC system The red beacon light culture is now widespread in the IAS Even probationary officers are demanding for a car, a light, a servant Do some training for this. The relationship between money and IAS is so deep that they are asking for plate numbers from contractors.This needs check and balance 3. Is there a weakness in the world's most difficult test? Did Khedkar use OBC and blind category falsely, and is she alone in exploiting like this? It should be investigated.
4. Is political influence so strong that it has suppressed the UPSC, IAS system? Are there others like Khedkar?
5. Are there more Nepo IAS officers jumping because of their parents? When media tried to talk to her mother, they found this. Mother is not regretting much. We will keep updating you about her. But a probationary officer has to train for 2 years. But she was demanding light and staff... Maybe, like other IAS officers, Khedkar also wanted to make reels. But this raises questions on the system. A hardworking student will see how OBC plus blind quota is misused They will also wonder what the point is. System is corrupt. Reservations are corrupt, there is no respect for honesty, That is why if the government is serious in this matter, then this OBC plus blind category will have to be investigated thoroughly. And not just Khedkar, the entire system needs to be checked.
solution 1:The Need for Urgent Reforms
This scandal serves as a wake-up call for the government and the UPSC to implement comprehensive reforms. Ensuring transparency, eliminating political and familial influences, and strengthening the verification process are imperative to restore the credibility of the IAS recruitment system. The government must act decisively to uphold the integrity of the UPSC examinations and ensure that only the most deserving candidates are selected to serve the nation.
Solution 2:Call to Action
For the sake of honest aspirants and the future of India’s administrative services, it is crucial to address these issues head-on. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, implement necessary reforms, and set a precedent that merit and integrity are paramount in the civil services.
In my opinion
It's not failure of India because In other developed country like America direct loop holes to come safely from criminal cases due to loop holes in law and order.
it's a true failure of gender equality and power, due to direct connection with government having some biased selection and our Indian peoples i don't know why they call out for this but upsc selection committee call out 5 times for medical discrepancies but due to women card and connection with government they ignored.
but in other hand if a man do same thing they will reject if he giving private hospital medical reports and due to violation of rule.
Conclusion
UPSC will have to be fully foolproof and isolated from influence, otherwise after NEET, the slogans of re-UPSC. And someday, some government will have to do a surgical strike on the relationship between money and IAS officers. And Modi ji had said that he will not eat or let anyone eat ... so do this for sake of honest officers do what you couldn't do in the last 10 years, do it in the next 5 years. Need to clean up the system need zero corruption in UPSC. Need to red beacon light culture And need to train the IAS to work for the country's welfare. Not for the welfare of the bank balance.