Candidates should be allowed to write both Bengali and Meitei Mayek scripts in Manipuri literature as optional papers in UPSC Civil Service examination, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba said on Wednesday.
He drew the attention of the Upper House in ‘special mention’ at the ongoing parliamentary session of Rajya Sabha.
Leishemba informed the House that Manipur Literature has two optional papers in UPSC examination, and both the two papers I and II have 250 marks each with a total of 500 marks.
Since 2006, the Manipur government has been trying to replace Bengali script into Meitei Mayek as a state policy, he said. Following the replacement, many students have passed out from BA and MA courses with Meitei Mayek script, he added.
He pointed out that students who passed out with Meitei Mayek script in BA and MA are not able to appear the UPSC examination as Manipuri optional papers are still in Bengali Script.
The students had also raised a demand to allow them to write Meitei Mayek script while appearing for the UPSC examination in optional papers, he said. The demand of the students is legitimate and has been a major issue for the students of Manipur, said Leishemba.
He appealed to the House to change the instruction of the optional papers as “answer must be written in Manipuri (Bengali or Meitei Mayek) only” instead of the current instruction which read as “answer must be written in Manipuri (Bengali Script).”
Leishemba further appealed to the House to allow the UPSC aspirants to appear at the examination with optional papers both in Bengali and Meitei Mayek scripts.
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