Any attempt to give a greater importance to English language in India never fails to evoke massive opposition and criticism. As the former UGC chairman Arun S. Nigavekar (who headed the committee of experts which gave the recommendations) said, these changes were made to meet the qualities a 21st-century civil servant should possess to deal with the multidimensional challenges of the present-day world [1], and I think, proficiency in English is very important to achieve this goal. Now, we cannot feign ignorance to the increasing role English plays in effective dispensation of administrative duties of a civil servant. Nor can we ignore its importance in pursuing India's global interests. For me, English is a great unifying force in India, given its vast linguistic diversity, which enables discussions and effective communication with my fellow countrymen, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, as if they were my next door neighbours. While the UPSC's decision to restrict choosing a regional language optional to only those who have pursued it as his/her bachelors degree subject may be a bit far-fetched, I think the medium of writing other papers, like general studies and essays, needs to be made in English.
Please correct me if I am being blind-sided in my views. Basil.