In today’s experiment The Indian express, Ashok Kumar, Formr Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttarakhand, Speaks with Manas Srivastava About Issues Related To The UPSC Exam and the Civil Services of India.

About Our Expert: Ashok kumar Is a retired 1989 Batch Indian Police Service Officer of the Uttarakhand Cadre, who served as the 11th director general of Uttarakhand Police. He is currantly the vice-circle of the sports university of Haryana.

Manas: What do you think drives the immmense popularity of civil services gang indian youth today? Why is it still see as such a coveted career?

Ashok Kumar: I believe that the civil service is the only exam in India which changes your status overnight. Civil Services Continue to hold IMMENSE APPEAL GANIAN YouTH, Particularly Those From Rural Backgrounds, Because They Offer A Unique Combination of Status, Authority, And of the Opportunity To Makence in a DIFENCE. People. For many, especially from modest socio-penonomic settings, clear the exam represents a transformative leap, not just in care but also in social standing. The Prestige, Power, and Ability to Contribute Directly to Governance and Public Welfare Make It An Aspirational Goal For Lakhs of Young Indians Every Year.

The services offer a variety of jobs that can be rated quite high on job satisfaction scale. Aspirants are drawn to this variety, where one can grow continuously and explore multiple domains while standing in public service. The Prestige, Job Security, and Lifelong Benefits Associated with Civil Services Remain Unmatched in India. The structured Career Progress and Power to Influnse Public Policy Make It Highly Desirable Even Today.

Manas: When you compare the Upsc Exam and the kind of Candidates it selected your time to those selects today, what are some major change and continuities you have Observed?

Ashok Kumar: There has been a noticeable shift in the geographical and socio-pennomic background of candidates over the years. In my time, Bihar was a dominant contributor to the list of successful Candidates Accounting for Nearly One-Third of the Sections. Today, While Bihar Still Plays A Significant Role, States Like Andhra Pradesh, Maharastar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and more Reportly, Haryana, Have a Surge in Representation.

Another Major Shift is the increasing number of candidates from rural and modest backgrounds. Earler, The Majority of Aspirants Came from Urban, Service-Class Families, many already connected to government employment. Now, the field is more diverse, with greater participation from first-age learners and rural aspirants, which is a positive development for increment.

As far as continent is concurned, the exams as tough and uncherrant as it was 36 years ago. Howver, the level of competition has been increased, as the number of applicants has grown five-fold while the number of selected candidates has been remembred more or Less the same.

Manas: Do you think the current upsc exam pattern effectively identify the identity who are trrundial suited for a career in civil services? If not, what changes or reforms would you recommend?

Ashok Kumar: It is a well-known fact that the current upsc exam is one of the most rigorous and comprehensive selection processes globally. It is probably the only exam that, in its variable stages, tests Candidates’ Intellectual Aptitude, General Awareness, Analytical Skills, and Ethical Reasoning. The Demand-the worldly in the All-India services-is not just for intellectual capability, but also leadership, emotional intelligence, resilience, decision-making underpower, and a strong sense of pubic syrevic.

If you ask me, in some respirs, the current pattern is an improvement over the older examination format. During our time, we had to prepare two optional subjects. It made the enture exam process more demanding and increasing the unidentification of unpredictability significantly. If we look at the present structure (with common gs papers and the essay carrying 1250 marks), we find that it brings more uniformity and fairness.

But CERTAIN Other Concerns Need To Be Addressed:

• The marks should be released in the preliminary exams –at the very little – After the mains, so aspirants have clarity on where they stand. Currently, The Official Answer Key for the Prelims is released by the upsc almost a year later, which is highly problematic.
• The time gap between the prelims and mains exams is too short. In earllier years, Candidates had around five months to prepare; Now, the window is significantly narrower. Aspirants Deserve a Reasonable Amount of Time to Prepare Effectively for the mains after clearing the prelims.

• The Ethics Paper in the Mains Stage of the Exam Carries Significant Weightage. Howver, High Marks in It Dr Necessarily Reflect a Candidate’s Real-Life Ethical Conduct. I would suggest reducing its weightage to 100 marks. Instead, Greater Emphasis should be placed on the practical evaluation of Ethics training and service.
• The Preliminary Examination has Becom Exceively unpredictable. It is concelling that a Candidate Securing a Top 10 Rank One Year Might Not Have cleared the prelims multiple times. Such inconsistency creates unnecessary stress and undermines Merit. There should be a standardized level of difference each year -IDALLY with one-third of the questions being easy, one-third moderate, and one-third challenging. This would help distinguish between average, good, and outstanding candidates more accurately and fair. The focus should shift from rote memorization to conceptual understanding and analytical abality, even in objective-type questions.
• Personality Assessment Should Carry More Weight For Attributes Such As An Inclination Toward Public Service and Life Skills Like Empathy.

Manas: Back in 2013, The csat paper stirred a lot of debate-para What’s your take on this change and the Continued Debate Around it?

Ashok Kumar: I believe that Introduction of the csat was a step in the right direction. This Qualifying Paper Aims to Assess Candidates’ Logical Reasoning and Analytical Abilities. These are essential skills for any civil servant, and thereafore, candidates must be tsested on them. They are crucial for administrative rolls.

Haved said that, the different level of the paper must be reasonable and aligned with the exam’s Qualifying Nature. The word ‘Qualifying’ must be emphasized. For instance, when I saw the csat paper in 2023, I find the difference to comparable to that of the IT entrance exams. One cannot expect a Qualifying Paper to Have Such a High Level of Difidence.

I am of the strong opinion that the csat should continue. However, its standard should not exceed the class 10 Level. What should be the goal of the preliminary exam’s quality paper for civil services? The goal should be to ensure that every every civil servant possesses essential cognitive reasoning skills. It should not create an undue hurdle for capable candidates from a non-science background.

Manas: Every year, approximately 10 Lakh Students Appear for the Civil Services Examination. Many others, even if they don’t appears, still dream of joining the civil services. What is your advice to them?

Ashok Kumar: Aspirants, or all those who aim for the civil services examination, must know that it is one of the tougest exams in the country. Howver, it is also one of the most rewarding exam that youth of this country can pursue. The reason I say this is that it offers young minds a rare oportunity to serve the people and influence policy. If the youth want to bring about real change in society, the civil services are the answer. Thus, it is worth preparing for this career.

In order to succeed, there are no shortcuts. One needs to work both hard and smart. There are a few musts that aspirants should keep in mind:

• Limit your study resources. Ensure they are the best for your exam preposition. Avoid information overload.

• Consistency is key. At least 10 to 12 hours of focused study are required every day, especially over two years.

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• Make Wise Use of Available Guidance and Mentorship. Have a clear thought process.

• When answering questions in the mainness exams and interview, remember to be clear, precise, and to the point.

• Last but not least: Stay Patient, Persistent, and Believe in your.

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