The question at hand revolves around the necessity for changes in the Civil Services Examination.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Undergoes Proposed Reforms
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced a series of reforms for the Civil Services Examination (CSE), aiming to make it more inclusive, efficient, and aligned with the demands of modern governance.
A Long Journey from a Merit Test to a Three-Tier Marathon
The CSE, which originated as a merit test in 1854 through the Macaulay Report, has evolved significantly over the years. It is now a three-tier examination that screens approximately 13 lakh candidates for around 10,000 further screening at the next stage, making it one of the most competitive examinations in the world.
Introducing Structured Interviews and Behavioral-Event Questions
In a bid to assess candidates' competencies more effectively, the CSE will introduce a Structured Interview with behavioral-event questions mapped to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Competency Framework. Additionally, a panel diversity rule will be implemented to ensure a diverse representation of panel members.
Tier-2 Mid-Career IAS Entry
Starting from 2030, the CSE will introduce a Tier-2 Mid-Career IAS Entry for 10-15% of the cadre. This move is expected to attract experienced professionals and provide a fresh perspective in the civil services.
Adapting to the Digital Age
To keep up with the digital age, the CSE will introduce an adaptive CSAT with separate cut-offs for Reasoning and Comprehension, and a weight of 70% for analytics and 30% for language. Additionally, Computer-Based Prelims with an analytics dashboard and psychometric flagging of guesswork will be implemented.
Revamping the Main Examination
The Main Examination, which has been criticized for rewarding fact-dumping over policy analysis, will undergo significant changes. The CSE will replace optional papers with twin papers on Governance & Public Policy starting from 2028. Moreover, two long-form analytical questions will be introduced in each General Studies (GS) paper. Digital & Climate Governance modules will also be introduced in the GS papers.
Regulating Coaching and Providing Free Learning Materials
To ensure fairness, the CSE will regulate coaching with a Central Consumer Protection Authority code. Furthermore, DIKSHA free modules for rural candidates will be made available to help candidates prepare for the examination.
The Road Ahead
While these reforms aim to convert India's demographic dividend into a governance dividend by making the civil service agile, representative, and future-ready, their implementation remains pending due to concerns about fairness, confidentiality, and logistical scale. The proposed reforms are a result of recommendations by the Baswan Committee and ongoing discussions, but no major changes have yet been implemented.
In conclusion, the UPSC CSE is set for a significant overhaul, with the aim of making it more accessible, efficient, and inclusive. However, the timeline for these changes remains uncertain, as they are subject to ongoing discussions and legal scrutiny.
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