Civil Service Examination: The controversy! ------------------------------------------------------------- The CSE (Civil Service Examination) Conducted by the UPSC selects around 1000 candidates every year, who get appointed into the 24 elite services of the government, starting from the IAS till the Pondicherry Police service. These candidates occupy key positions in the government. The selection process has a qualifying preliminary exam having multiple choice questions, and then a descriptive written exam, followed by an interview. It is the qualifying preliminary exam, popularly called as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) which is under controversy. It has two papers, Paper 1 on general knowledge (100 questions) and Paper 2 on logical reasoning, communication, analytical ability, problem solving, mental ability etc. (80 questions) Now, there is a cry for scrapping Paper 2. The reason quoted is that it has five questions on English Reading comprehension, which Hindi medium students find it difficult to answer. In my personal opinion, the demand to scrap paper 2 has no merit in it. Firstly, the standard of these 5 questions in English language, is of 10th class. Is it wrong to expect a candidate who is competing for the coveted All India public service, to have basic knowledge of English, which is the link language of our Country? Secondly, there is no disproportionate weightage to English. 5 questions out of 180 questions, just 3%, seems appropriate. Thirdly, when scores of candidates from non-Hindi belt in the country are forced to attend the exam either in English or Hindi, arent the students of Hindi already getting advantage of able to attend the exam in Hindi? Indeed, Paper 2 in its present form was introduced in 2011, in tune with the changing need of the times. Paper 2 actually tests the analytical ability, logical thinking etc. Thus, it tests the leadership and managerial abilities in the candidates. If we want a new India, where the government has to act as a leader and facilitator, then its officers have to deal with proficient people and complex systems both in India and outside. For that, we need to have candidates who are able to go beyond the narrow thinking and able to look at the country that belongs to everybody. If we start compromising on that, we may not only be going on reverse gear, but soon reach a point of no return. (Views and opinions most welcome!)
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:25:18 +0000
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