The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday cancelled a trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar’s candidature in the 2022 Civil Services Examination (CSE) and barred her from appearing for any future examinations of the commission, after finding she had violated rules by appearing for the exam more times than what was allowed.

It said her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 (Civil Services Examination-2022) has been “cancelled” and she has also been “debarred permanently” from all future UPSC examinations or selections.

The UPSC had issued Khedkar a show-cause notice on July 18 for “fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limit provided for in the Examination Rules by faking her identity”. She was asked to submit her response to the notice by July 25, but she asked for further time till August 4. The UPSC allowed her till 3.30 pm on July 30 to make her submissions.

According to a statement, the UPSC said it has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules.

It said the 34-year-old was told to submit her response to the notice by July 25, but she requested for time till August 4. The UPSC granted her time till July 30 and made it clear that it was the “final opportunity” and “no further extension in time” would be allowed.

She was also told that if no response is received by the deadline, UPSC would take action. “Despite extension in time allowed to her, she failed to submit her explanation within the prescribed time,” the panel has said in the statement.

“The UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled and she has also been debarred permanently from all the future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC,” it said.