In an innovative initiative to bridge India’s significant number of talented untapped top-exam performers with meaningful career positions, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), as part of the “Pratibha Setu” initiative, has launched a digital platform which provides details of non-recommended, willing candidates that made it all the way through the UPSC exams but came up just short of the final merit list, to the various sectors including both the Government and private sectors as an employer.
The initiative was formerly called the Public Disclosure Scheme, and is intended to channel candidates’ talent that almost made it into the nation’s leading civil services.
UPSC launched Pratibha Setu officially on June 20, 2025, to allow verified employers to employ non-recommended candidates who were successful at each stage of the recruitment process. This represents an important shift in the nature of UPSC’s engagement with the private sector and job market.
What is Pratibha Setu?
• A refreshed, upgraded version of the Public Disclosure Scheme.
• A bridge between deserving candidates and hiring organisations (Setu).
• A login-based secure platform for accessing candidate information.
• A way for registered employers to voluntarily recruit aspirants.
Key Characteristics
• The platform includes all non-recommended candidates who made it through all stages of the UPSC exams.
• Participation in the process is voluntary for candidates, they must opt-in to share their profiles.
• Verified employers in Government and private sectors have access to a login.
• To tap the “almost equally meritorious” candidates that were not a part of the final list.
The Objectives
• Improve the employability and visibility of UPSC aspirants who came close to selection.
• Establish a reliable talent pipeline for organisations seeking skilled candidates who has been filtered.
• Encourage public-private models to access the intellectual capital of India.
