CSAT 2015: Will UPSC give another ‘pleasant shock’!

Stage is set for the new scheme in the Prelims Examination 2015. The likely change is not expected to be radical with respect to syllabus, rather in terms of configuration of marks. In recently held meeting of concerned officials, regarding the suggestions circulated in the All Party Meeting related to change in CSAT pattern, the option to reverting back to optional paper and other alternative has been ruled out. Similarly, the latest effort is to zero-in around two other options i.e., reduced weightage of analytical component or making paper-2 qualifying. In such a volatile scenario an important question is, ‘Is GS going to be everything in the latest avatar likely to be announced soon?’

In a move that could give sleepless nights to lakhs of civil service aspirants, the government had asked political parties to take a stand on the changes it wanted in the Civil Services Preliminary Exam conducted by the UPSC.

The four points on which the government has sought their opinion at the end of an all-party meeting include scrapping the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) introduced in 2011; reducing the analytical component of the aptitude paper; or make the CSAT paper a qualifying paper. It has also asked if English language comprehension skills should be continued as part of the CSAT paper.

The move indicated that the format and content of the next Civil Services Examination was not a closed chapter and could undergo drastic changes. But it would bring about a semblance of transparency before the examination format is finalized.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister, M. Venkaiah Naidu, said in Nov, 2014, that the political parties have been asked to give their views on the issues related to CSAT exam. After the All Party Meeting, he quoted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as telling the meeting that since the issue is very sensitive, collective view has to be taken. "The meeting saw all political parties appreciating the government's approach in this regard as they were given an opportunity to discuss the issue.”

While keeping our fingers crossed, we would suggest all the candidates to be prepared for the change and don't ignore GS, which was the case earlier.

Article Written By: Manoj K. Jha

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