Minority organisations say the exclusion disadvantages Urdu-medium candidates in a state where Urdu is the second official language
HYDERABAD —Questions are being raised over the exclusion of Urdu as an examination medium in several recent recruitment notifications issued by the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC), despite Urdu enjoying the status of the state’s second official language.
Over the past week, the commission issued recruitment notifications for a total of 314 posts across various departments and has begun accepting applications from eligible candidates. However, according to the notifications, candidates will be able to write the examinations only in English or Telugu, with no provision for answering papers in Urdu.
The issue has sparked concern among Urdu-speaking communities, educationists and minority organisations, who argue that the decision could place Urdu-medium students at a disadvantage in government recruitment processes.
The recently announced vacancies include 222 posts of Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil), 49 posts of Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical), 24 posts of Deputy Educational Officer and 19 posts of Environmental Engineer. In all four notifications, Urdu has not been included among the examination languages.
Critics say the omission is particularly significant because Telangana officially recognises Urdu as its second official language and has repeatedly stated its commitment to promoting the language and improving opportunities for Urdu-speaking citizens.
Community leaders argue that if Urdu is excluded from competitive examinations, especially recruitment tests for government jobs, it becomes difficult to achieve the stated goal of linking the language with employment opportunities.
They point out that a large number of students in Telangana have studied through the Urdu medium and may not possess the same level of proficiency in English or Telugu as candidates educated in those languages.
“How can Urdu be promoted if candidates are not allowed to write competitive examinations in Urdu?” asked one community representative. “The state speaks of protecting and developing the language, but practical opportunities are being reduced.”
Minority organisations have also questioned how the government expects to recruit Urdu-knowing officials if examination facilities in the language are not made available.
The issue has already prompted action from the United Telangana Employees Association for Minorities, which has written to the Secretary of the Telangana Public Service Commission. The organisation has requested that Urdu be included as a medium for the Deputy Educational Officer examination and other recruitment tests conducted by the Commission.
According to the association, the exclusion of Urdu effectively limits opportunities for many qualified candidates and amounts to indirect discrimination against Urdu-medium students.
Representatives of minority groups have urged the Telangana government, Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin and senior officials of the Telangana Public Service Commission to intervene in the matter.
They have called for immediate amendments to the recently issued notifications and demanded that candidates be allowed to write examinations in Urdu. They have also sought a broader policy ensuring that all future examinations conducted by the Commission provide Urdu as an optional medium.
Educational activists argue that providing examination facilities in Urdu would not only uphold the language’s official status but would also help create greater representation of Urdu-speaking communities in government services.
With recruitment processes already underway, organisations working for the promotion of Urdu have urged authorities to act quickly so that eligible Urdu-medium candidates are not deprived of the opportunity to compete on equal terms with other applicants.
