The union public service commission (UPSC) has decided that candidates who opt for an Indian language medium other than Hindi for the written civil services exam can now give the interview in the same Indian language, English or Hindi.

As per the recommendations of an expert committee, even those candidates who give the main exam in English can now choose for the interview English, Hindi or any other Indian language, opted by them for the compulsory Indian language paper in the written part of the test, the UPSC said in an affidavit submitted in the Bombay high court.

The affidavit was submitted in response to a PIL filed by IAS aspirant Chittaranjan Kumar, challenging the existing rule that requires a candidate to give the interview in English if he had appeared for the main examination in that language.

Kumar, who appeared for the written part of the 2008 civil services examination in English, wanted to give the interview in Hindi.

The affidavit said these were the recommendations submitted by an expert committee formed specially to look into the issue.

The recommendations had been accepted by the UPSC and forwarded to the government with a request to send comments or observations. After hearing from the government, the UPSC would incorporate the necessary changes and implement them, the court was told.

As per the present policy, the candidates who are exempted from the compulsory Indian language paper have to appear for the interview in English or Hindi only.

Chief justice Mohit Shah and justice G S Godbole disposed off the petition.