What is UPSC PRATIBHA Setu? Which UPSC Exams are Not Covered?

What is UPSC PRATIBHA Setu?
Former Name: Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS).
Meaning of PRATIBHA: Professional Resource And Talent Integration – Bridge for Hiring Aspirants.
Core Purpose: To act as a second gateway for highly qualified UPSC candidates who cleared all exam stages (including written and interview) but narrowly missed the final merit list (recommendation) to find employment.
Target Candidates: “Non-recommended willing candidates” from specific UPSC exams who opted-in to participate.
Target Employers: Verified employers, including:
Central Government Ministries/Departments
Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
Autonomous Bodies
Private Organizations (a key inclusion)

Why was it Created (Purpose)?
Tap into High-Caliber Talent: Provides employers access to candidates proven to be “almost as meritorious” as those who made the final UPSC list.
Provide Opportunities to Aspirants: Offers a valuable “second chance” for deserving candidates who invested significant effort but fell just short of final selection.
Efficient Talent Matching: Bridges the gap between government/private sector employers needing qualified personnel and a pool of pre-evaluated, highly capable candidates.

Which UPSC Exams are Covered in UPSC PRATIBHA Setu?
Civil Services Examination (CSE/ IAS exam)
Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS)
Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination (CAPF)
Engineering Services Examination (ESE)
Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS)
Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination (IES/ISS)
Combined Medical Services Examination (CMS)

Which Exams are NOT Covered in UPSC PRATIBHA Setu?
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
Limited Departmental Competitive Examinations (LDCEs):
CBI (DSP) LDCE
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE
S.O./Steno (GE-B/GD-I) LDCE Exams

How Does it Operate? (Way of Operating)
Candidate Opt-In: Non-recommended candidates who clear all stages must explicitly indicate their willingness to participate in the scheme.

Employer Access (Key Change from PDS):
Registered Login IDs: UPSC provides login credentials to verified government organizations (Ministries, PSUs, Autonomous Bodies).
Private Organization Registration: Private companies can directly register themselves through a dedicated portal on the UPSC website.

Database Access: Registered employers (both government and private) use their login IDs to access the secure database containing details of willing non-recommended candidates.

Voluntary Recruitment: Employers can browse candidate profiles based on the exam cleared, year, marks, category, etc., and voluntarily contact candidates they are interested in for potential recruitment, bypassing the need for UPSC to publish public lists.

Key Evolution from PDS
PDS (2018-2023): UPSC published lists of willing candidates publicly on its website.
PRATIBHA Setu (Current): UPSC provides secure, login-based access to verified/registered employers (including private sector) to a candidate database, enhancing privacy and efficiency.

In Simple Terms
UPSC PRATIBHA Setu is a job-matching platform run by the UPSC. It connects top employers (both government and private) with brilliant candidates who aced the tough UPSC written exams and interviews but missed the final cut by a small margin. Employers get access to a pre-vetted talent pool, and candidates get a valuable second shot at a great career. Access for employers is now through a secure online portal instead of public lists.