On Friday, 27 April, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb courted controversy by saying that mechanical engineers shouldn’t opt for the UPSC. He had said, “Those who are from a mechanical engineering background should not opt for civil services. Society has to be built up. Civil engineers have this knowledge... Because those in the administration have to build society.”
On Sunday, 29 April, the chief minister, who had stirred a storm with his controversial remarks, clarified that what he meant was that civil engineers should join civil services because they have the experience, reported ANI.
I didn’t say mechanical engineers mustn’t go for civil service. I said that civil engineers should join civil services as they have experience about administration.Biplab Deb, Tripura CM
Incidentally, Sachin Gupta, the third rank holder in the UPSC 2017 exams, is a mechanical engineer.
What Had Biplab Deb Said?
Earlier, arts graduates use to appear for the civil services examination and now, medical and engineering graduates are also joining the services, Deb said.
Deb said civil service officers should be all-rounders as “people who are expert in all disciplines have the highest demand.”
To drive his point home, he cited the examples of Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev. "People take names of special players such as Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev. Dev's bowling was good, but batting was also excellent. This is the age of specialty. All-rounders are accorded highest priority," Deb said.
His comment comes days after he questioned the crowning of Diana Hayden as "Miss World" in 1997 and alleging that international beauty contests were a farce. Earlier this month, Deb, an arts graduate, had claimed that Internet and satellite communication existed in the days of Mahabharata, drawing criticism from Twitterati, intellectuals and his political adversaries.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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