BharatNotes NO. The Supreme Court (Feb 2021) and again in July 2021 refused to direct UPSC to grant an extra attempt to candidates whose last chance was burned during the pandemic. No permanent COVID relaxation exists in CSE 2026.
Every year, hopeful aspirants in coaching WhatsApp groups still pass around old screenshots claiming "one extra attempt because of COVID." The clean, verified answer for 2026: there is no such relaxation, and there never was, in a permanent or general sense. The Supreme Court's 2021 judgments in Rachna & Ors. v. Union of India settled this conclusively.
The full timeline — what actually happened (2020-2021)
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Oct 2020 | Prelims 2020 held mid-pandemic; thousands of last-attempt General candidates either skipped or under-prepared | UPSC calendar |
| Late 2020 | Multiple writ petitions filed in SC seeking one extra attempt for last-attemptees | LiveLaw |
| Early Feb 2021 | Centre briefly informed SC it was "open to a one-time, restricted relaxation" for those whose last attempt fell in 2020 and who weren't age-barred | LiveLaw |
| Mid Feb 2021 | Petitioners also sought age relaxation; Centre withdrew its concession in entirety | Bar & Bench |
| 24 Feb 2021 | 3-judge SC bench (Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Indu Malhotra, Ajay Rastogi) dismissed the plea; called COVID a "lame excuse" and warned of cascading effects on other competitive exams | Rachna v. UoI |
| 12 Apr 2021 | UPSC clarified to candidates that the SC judgment was final | UPSC notification |
| Jul 2021 | Fresh plea filed; bench (J. Khanwilkar) noted "That judgment covers everyone" and refused fresh directions | LiveLaw |
| 2022 | A revised plea sought extra Mains attempt for those infected during Mains 2021; Centre rejected; SC declined to intervene | Business Standard |
| 2023-2026 | No further relief; rule re-affirmed in every annual notification | UPSC notifications |
What the Court actually said
The operative reasoning of the 24 February 2021 bench:
- Universality: If COVID hardship qualified for an extra attempt, every candidate who appeared in 2020 had to be granted relief — not just last-attemptees. That would multiply the candidate pool unsustainably.
- Floodgates: Granting one extra attempt for COVID would trigger similar demands for every future calamity — floods, communal disturbance, family bereavement. The notification scheme would collapse.
- No fundamental right to a fixed number of attempts. The number of attempts is a policy decision of the Executive, not a justiciable right.
- Other competitive bodies (SSC, RBI, banking) would face identical claims if UPSC bent.
Net effect for CSE 2026
- No extra COVID attempt for anyone — last-attemptee, general, OBC, anyone.
- No COVID-era age relaxation.
- No relaxation for COVID-19 infection during Mains/Interview 2020-22.
- The 2020-21 episode is now closed jurisprudence, cited as precedent against every fresh demand.
What about future pandemics or calamities?
The Court's reasoning effectively rules out any blanket relaxation for any general-scale event. The only doors that remain open:
- Individual hardship (medical certificate, ICU admission on the exam date) — but even here, UPSC has historically not granted re-exams. At best, the candidate is allowed to use any remaining attempts in subsequent cycles.
- Withdrawal Window (introduced for CSE 2020; discontinued for CSE 2026 — check each year's notification) — if a calamity hits before the exam and the window is available, withdrawing the application preserves the attempt.
Why this matters today
If any coaching influencer in 2026 tells you to bank on a future COVID-style relaxation — ignore them. The Supreme Court has explicitly set the precedent that pandemics, family deaths, or personal tragedy do not toll the attempt counter. Plan within the official 6/9/unlimited grid and use the withdrawal window proactively.
A note on COVID-recovered candidates
If you tested COVID-positive on the morning of an exam between 2020-2022, you were not granted a make-up. Some candidates approached High Courts; relief was uniformly denied citing the Rachna precedent. If you appeared while infected and underperformed, that attempt counts.
Mentor's note: This is a hard pill. But it makes one thing clearer — every attempt is sacred. Don't sleepwalk into Prelims to "see how it goes"; that mindset has cost more careers than COVID ever did. If you're sick or under-prepared, withdraw — don't no-show, and definitely don't appear half-heartedly.
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