The dedicated efforts of Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan (UPSS) in promoting Sanskrit have started reaping the desired results. The language has not only gained popularity nationally and internationally, but also, the number of civil service aspirants opting for Sanskrit has seen an overwhelming 2.5-fold increase.
As a result of the growing popularity of Sanskrit among the youth, over 500 civil service aspirants appeared in the entrance examination conducted for free preparation for civil services in Sanskrit by the UP Sanskrit Sansthan this year. The number of students has climbed up by two-and-a-half times as compared to last year. The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has taken several initiatives to promote Indian culture among the youth along with providing them with the knowledge and understanding of Sanskrit, consequently, the number of students taking online Sanskrit classes from UP Sanskrit Sansthan has reached 60,000.
To increase the importance of Sanskrit in the administrative services, under the free coaching programme by the Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan, the preparation for civil services ranging from preliminary examination to interview is being done in Sanskrit. The selection of students is done in two phases. The first phase includes the entrance exam. After which the students are shortlisted for an interview according to the merit. A total of 60 students are selected. There is also a provision to give direct admission to such candidates who have passed the preliminary examination of UPSC. A total of 15 students are taken under this.
According to Prof Vachaspati Mishra, head of UP Sanskrit Sansthan, students from other states like Kerala, Rajasthan, Haryana, West Bengal, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab are also being prepared for civil services in Sanskrit. Under the third session of free coaching to civil service aspirants, about 946 people registered.
Appreciating the efforts of the state government in reviving Sanskrit, Alka Verma, who became assistant commissioner in the Industries department after clearing the civil services examination in Sanskrit language in the last two sessions, said that the measures taken by the government have been beneficial to many, especially to people coming from financially weaker backgrounds. To be taught by the spokespersons of central universities is very valuable, she said.
Prashant Singh Rathore, currently working as block education officer, says that along with preparing for civil service in Sanskrit, we also were imparted lessons on basic etiquettes, moral education and Indian culture. Benefiting from the free coaching programme, Manish Singh, senior spokesperson of DIET, says that where hardly any person opted for Sanskrit earlier, now Sanskrit has largely increased its presence in every examination.