Guwahati, Nov 27:  Candidates appearing in Assam Civil Service examination conducted by Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) will be able to write their answers both in preliminary and mains examination in Assamese language also unlike earlier examination where they were allowed to wrote answers only in English.
A decision in this regard was taken by the Assam government today after learning about a particular APSC rule that allows writing of answers in Assam Civil Services Examination only in English even though the UPSC allows aspirants in write answers in any of the Eight Schedule language.
Informing this today, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today informed that gradually steps would be taken to allow writing answers in APSC examinations in languages like Bodo, Mising languages etc., too to provide level playing field and equal opportunities to all aspirants.
Regarding Assam Cabinet’s decision to do away with language paper in APSC civil service examination, Dr Sarma said it was aimed at providing equal opportunities to aspirants educated in different medium of instructions like Assamese, English etc.
He said though the previous BJP government in the state in 2018 took a decision that one has to be study Assamese language at least till Class X standard to be eligible to appear for recruitment examination to Assam government jobs including ACS, not recruitment has been conducted on the basis of that decision so far it has been challenged by some aspirants in the High Court. The decision was binding only on job aspirants from Brahmaputra Valley districts as those from Barak Valley, BTC, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao were exempted from the purview of the decision. 
“As the government as no answers to the questions raised in the High Court about the reasons behind taking such a decision, the government has no other options but to do away with the language paper in the ACS examination, “the Chief Minister said.
He, however, pointed out that withdrawing of the language paper from the ASC recruitment examination would no way hamper interests or prospects of the state’s candidates as the government has make it mandatory that:
•    One must be a permanent resident of the state to be eligible to appear in ACS examination.
•    One’s name must be registered with employment exchanges of Assam to be eligible to appear in ACS examination.
•    One must be able to converse in Assamese language fluently to be able to appear in ACS examination or qualify for ACS jobs.