A logical way to crack the Civil Services Examination

A logical way to crack the Civil Services
graduate
The Civil Services examination of the Union Public Service Commission is one of the toughest in the world as success in the test brings about a total transformation of the winners like pupae become butterflies overnight. Those who cross the hurdle occupy key positions in the government for more than 30 years, much longer than most politicians can expect to remain in power without re-election.

Following the British tradition, Civil Service officers act as the steel frame of the government, providing checks and balances to their political masters. Those communities who have lost their importance on account of land laws and other social changes send their youngsters to the IAS and IPS to retrieve their lost glory. For these reasons, there is enhanced interest in the Civil Services, in spite of the tremendous opportunities available in the private sector. The competition becomes tougher every year as more and more young people aspire to be in the elite Civil Services.

Many changes have taken place in the examination system since I took it in 1966. The age limit of candidates has risen from 23 gradually to 32, and higher for certain categories, and the number of chances has increased from two to six or more. The number of optional papers has been reduced from three to one, but more General Studies papers were introduced, including the all-important subject of ethics. A Preliminary Examination has been introduced to eliminate the weaker candidates. Many meet their Waterloo at the early stage itself even after having reached higher levels in previous attempts. The nature of candidates has also changed. As against the preponderance of humanities Masters degree holders, today engineers and other professional degree holders have begun to compete without going for Masters degrees.

In actual fact, however, the essential nature of the examination has not changed. “Catch them young” and train them for high responsibilities is the approach even now. Some brilliant candidates may still fail, but those who make it to the Civil Services are those who start preparations early and gain broad education through extensive reading on a variety of subjects. The syllabi for various papers are in general terms and they are worded in such a way that nothing can be excluded. In other words, candidates are supposed to know everything under the sun at the three stages of the examination - Preliminary, Mains and Personality Test.

The Civil Services examination aims to test the overall development of the candidates from childhood till the examination and, therefore, it is difficult to fix the age at which preparations should begin. Parents should encourage their children - who have the potential for high achievement - to develop broad interests and to follow the news and read books available for different ages. Such children should excel in studies and also acquire additional abilities such as fluency in the English language. From around the age of 12, they should be made aware of their higher calling by outlining the scheme of the competitive examination so that they begin dreaming of a career in the Civil Services. After Class XII, they should be encouraged to read classics as well as biographies and autobiographies. They should also begin writing notes on what they read, the new words they learn and other experiences. By the time they graduate, their dream should be transformed into an objective with a strategy to achieve it.

Ideally, those who wish to take the Civil Services examination should do a Masters course, preferably in a subject that can be offered as an optional subject. Since no planning is done in advance, many candidates are unable to choose an optional subject that they studied in college. A Masters degree in history, politics, sociology, public administration, international affairs or English Literature will save the effort in preparing for the optional subject, which has two papers. Science subjects are not popular with the candidates as they feel that the syllabi are tough and the latest developments in the sciences are difficult to comprehend. Optional subjects should be taken with an eye on their scoring potential and utility in the services. The government should consider introducing a Masters degree in public affairs with the Civil Service syllabus so that the two years of study for the Civil Services will get them a degree even if they do not qualify for the Civil Services.

Once the year for the examination is chosen after graduation and attainment of 21 years of age, the first thing to do is to look at old question papers and see what per cent of the questions is familiar and focus attention on the remaining difficult areas. It is here that coaching classes and training programmes help. But the training is no substitute for reading books, magazines and newspapers. At best, training can guide the candidates to the right sources and fill the gaps in their knowledge and understanding. A strategy and effective allocation of time are crucial for the preparation for the examination. Notes prepared by the candidates themselves are much more valuable than readymade notes available in the market.

Since the examination is in three stages, there is a tendency to compartmentalise learning for them. A more scientific way is to learn different topics in their entirety and use it for different examinations. It is also not practical to wait for the results of the first stage to prepare for the second and third stages. A holistic approach and a carefully worked out strategy for study are essential. But several commercial coaching centres offer shortcuts that do not demand even basic reading. To be a civil servant without reading the autobiographies of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History is to miss the fundamentals of our nation. Reading of the classics and contemporary fiction and non-fiction is also very significant.

Test-based training is good, particularly for the Preliminary Examination, but for the Main papers, including General Studies, Optionals and Essays, there is no alternative to writing practice. The challenge lies as much in learning as in being able to write the relevant points within the stipulated time. It is rumoured that the examiners merely look for the key points given to them by the UPSC and disregard the original points learnt by the candidates themselves from research. But original thinking and research will definitely help in writing impressive essays.

The Personality Test was crucial in the early years as it carried 1,000 marks for the IAS and 1,500 marks for the IFS. Today, only 275 marks are allotted for the Personality Test, but it remains decisive in the selection process. The personality of an individual is not built in a day. Personality development should be kept in mind throughout the preparation. Keeping your eyes and ears open for all information before the interview is the only way to remain updated. It is often possible to guide the Board into areas familiar to the candidate by casually dropping words and phrases on familiar subjects during the conversation. The success lies in treating the interview as a living room conversation and not as a question and answer session. No one knows everything under the sun and, therefore, there should be no hesitation to admit ignorance rather than try to bluff. It is the analytical ability and decision-making capacity that is tested at the Personality Test. Detailed questions should be expected on the information, particularly hobbies, given in the application. There have been instances of candidates being asked to sing and draw cartoons during the interview.

Opting for a particular service is a complex process unless the candidate has a clear preference for a service. In the past, the highest preference was for the IFS, but of late, the IAS is the most popular. But since those who join the IFS cannot take the examination again to improve rankings, many candidates give IPS and other services as the second preference. The choice of services and state cadre should be made with care as they cannot be altered afterwards.

The Civil Services examination is not a gamble as it is believed by some. The results often spring surprises. There may be aberrations as it is not on a plain playing field that candidates compete. Certain subjects and the way of answering them may be advantageous or disadvantageous at times. Examiners may have their own idiosyncrasies, and regional preferences may affect the valuation, particularly as answers can be written in any of the approved languages. The lack of study material in regional languages is a disincentive to answering in them, but Hindi is widely used. The importance of English has been diluted in the Preliminary Examination.

But the integrity of the UPSC has never been in question. With a better-than-average intelligence quotient, determined and continuous efforts, wide reading and education and power of expression in writing and speaking, anyone can crack the exam and remain at the helm of affairs of the state for more than three decades. There is no greater challenge and opportunity for young Indians today than serving in the Civil Services.

T.P. Sreenivasan is a former Indian diplomat. The views expressed here are personal.