UPSC’s new format notified, weightage on general studies
9 March 2013 4:46 AM IST
The government has notified the new pattern of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). A gazette notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on the changing the test pattern says that the Civil Services (Mains) exam will have a separate paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude. It will include questions to test the candidate’s attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and their problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by them in dealing with society.
The DoPT has also changed the marks distribution of papers and increased the number of compulsory subject papers of general studies for the main examination. From this year itself, in the Civil Services (Mains) examination, there will be four compulsory general studies papers of 250 marks each, in addition to two optional papers of 250 marks each. The total marks for the main exams will be 1,800.
The reforms would bring a semblance of a level playing field amongst lakhs of candidates appearing in different subjects. Civil service aspirants earlier had to clear two language papers; English and a regional language. The regional language paper has been completely withdrawn. According to estimate, about 6 to 11% candidates – who passed the preliminary qualifying examination – flunked in the language papers in the second-tier examination. The UPSC has doubled the number of general studies papers to four and halved the weightage for optional papers. The new exam pattern has scrapped one optional subject.
The DoPT has also changed the marks distribution of papers and increased the number of compulsory subject papers of general studies for the main examination. From this year itself, in the Civil Services (Mains) examination, there will be four compulsory general studies papers of 250 marks each, in addition to two optional papers of 250 marks each. The total marks for the main exams will be 1,800.
The reforms would bring a semblance of a level playing field amongst lakhs of candidates appearing in different subjects. Civil service aspirants earlier had to clear two language papers; English and a regional language. The regional language paper has been completely withdrawn. According to estimate, about 6 to 11% candidates – who passed the preliminary qualifying examination – flunked in the language papers in the second-tier examination. The UPSC has doubled the number of general studies papers to four and halved the weightage for optional papers. The new exam pattern has scrapped one optional subject.
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