The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has postponed the civil services (Preliminary) examination 2021, which was scheduled on June 27.  In view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country, the UPSC CSE prelims will be held on October 10, the UPSC announced Thursday.

"Due to the prevailing conditions caused by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Union Public Service Commission has deferred the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2021, which was scheduled to be held on 27th June, 2021. Now, this Examination will be held on 10th October, 2021," The Commission said in a statement. 

In 2020, the civil services exam which was scheduled for May 31 was also rescheduled to October 4. However, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the interviews of the CSE, 2020 which were scheduled from April 26, 2021 to June 18, 2021 were also postponed.

The commission has also postponed the Combined Medical Services Examination, 2021 scheduled for May 5, 2021. All recruitment examinations, including SSC CGL and SSC CHSL have also been deferred in view of the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.