Rahis Singh
Recently the results of the Indian Civil Services Examination 2022 came and soon after that the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023 was completed. Some discussions and some questions have come up regarding the result and exam. First, women candidates got great success in the examination. Out of the total 933 successful candidates, 320 are girls. There are 14 girls in the top 25, including a topper. Second, the graph of success in Indian languages going up with English. This year maximum 54 candidates were successful from English Medium, whereas last year this number was 24. If the candidates of other Indian languages are added to these, then this number becomes 79.
a decade of change
As far as changes are concerned, it is continuously visible since 2013 and also seen in 2023 preliminary exam. UPSC’s strategy seems to be that candidates do comprehensive study instead of selective study and focus on contemporary instead of current. The pre-exams of 2023 specifically indicate this. In this, instead of current, contemporary issues have been raised, which can be solved only by reading course books.
- Earlier the question paper was only conceptual, but this time the effect of information, concepts, static subjects is more in it. This time the eliminating method has also been abandoned.
- Another aspect is that of the mains exam. To put it simply, things are more interdisciplinary now. This became a problem for those who studied selective. You cannot do well in one subject without knowing it well in another, this principle proved effective in this.
It is clear that UPSC wants perfection, however the parameters it is following are impractical. So it would not be wrong to say that even its exam pattern is not perfect. Especially, CSAT and optional subject system. Talking about English and other Indian languages in this exam, English also became global in the 21st century, but it slipped behind in UPSC. In the era when Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on Vocal for Local, Indian languages were neglected by the UPSC. So, apart from not understanding the traditional sensibilities of India, has the Commission ignored the sensitive requests of the Prime Minister?
- Till 2013, the condition of English was somewhat better. Then 8 of the top 100 were of English medium.
- After the arrival of CSAT, the wheel of time started turning upside down for English medium candidates and by 2021, English had collapsed.
- The result of 2022 was better in this respect, but it is better not from the qualitative point of view, but from the quantitative point of view. Most have a rank below 800.
The question is whether injustice is being done with English and Indian languages or the candidates preparing from these languages do not have the same ability and capability that English medium candidates have? There is no doubt that the mindset of UPSC is pro-English. No need to go back much further. If you look at the second question paper (CSAT) of this year’s preliminary examination, then the thinking of the commission will be known. But questions also arise for English medium students.
- Most of these are students who have brought a dream from rural environment. But these students do not want to study what UPSC expects. They read only what they like. Now the commission has stopped coming to your level and you do not want to go higher. If this continues, then the results will come like this only.
- Secondly, the competition of these students is not only with English medium students but also with those who have come from fields like Management, Engineering, Medical. The approach of these youths is better than the normal academic ones. The student of English medium is not ready to understand this.
It is also worth noting that India’s democracy has matured with the diversity of the country. That’s why the psychology of civil servants should be favorable to it. When the civil services started in India, the civil servants were appointed in India after completing the knowledge of Indian history and culture at Helivari College, London. It is not so now. Now the aim of the candidate is to pass the exam. In the past years it has been seen that people qualify the exam by taking Pali, Urdu or Persian. What use can they have in administration? The commission should see why the results of those who take these optional subjects are better than those of other subjects.
Kautilya has said that we need people of character in the civil service. We’ll build the ability. Is UPSC able to assume this? He has added a paper of ethics to its name. Do the candidates develop moral values within themselves just by reading this subject?
ideal exam pattern
In any case, the subject is vast and complex. That’s why expert committees are also formed from time to time, but till now the commission has not been able to make an ideal pattern of examination. The commission needs to understand that the Indian administrative system is not a mechanics, which can be run mechanically without sensitivity and character.
(The author is a foreign affairs expert)
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own.