A high level panel set up by the UPSC has recommended that the conduct of UPSC examinations be delinked from inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule.

The panel recommendations gain prominence in the wake of massive protests being organised by civil service aspirants demanding complete removal of CSAT from civil services qualifying examinations as they allege it is biased toward science and engineering graduates educated in English-medium institutes.

Agitating students are demanding that regional languages be considered to test their their acumen for civil services instead of English. Among the languages seeking an entry into the civil services exams are Pahari (Himachali), Pali, Rajas-thani, Angika, Banjara, Bazika, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhotia, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Dhatki, Garhwali, Gondi, Gujjar/ Gujjari, Ho, Kachachhi, Kamtapuri, Karbi, Khasi, Kodava (Coorg), Kok Barak, Kumaoni, Kurak, Kurmali, Lepcha, Limbu, Mizo (Lushai), Magahi, Mundari, Nagpuri, Nicobarese, Sambalpuri/Kosali, Shaurseni (Prakrit), Siraiki, Tenyidi and Tulu as reported in Deccan Chronicle.