The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday postponed the civil services preliminary examination, scheduled to be held in June, to October 10 in view of the alarming COVID situation.

The UPSC conducts the civil services exam every year to fill Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS) level jobs. To be selected for the job, candidates have to clear preliminary test, mains, followed by a personality interview.

"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," a statement issued by the commission said.

While the CSE 2021 prelims or the first stage of the exam has been deferred, the UPSC has also changed the schedule for several other exams including Employment Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) Exam 2020, Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2020 interviews etc.