New Delhi, Dec. 7: The apex examination conducting body for central government in India the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is all set to introduce changes in the pattern of Civil Services (mains) examination. The UPSC has constituted a high-powered committee to suggest changes in the pattern of second stage, popular as “Mains” examination.

The UPSC conducts three stage examination to shortlist candidate for Civil Services namely; ‘preliminary’, 'main' and personality test (interview).

On reform path earlier, UPSC had brought some changes the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The new format of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination has sought to test the aptitude of the candidates not just their knowledge. The changes in the preliminary exam weren’t as drastic as the UPSC had originally hoped. This is one reason why the government was reluctant to rename the preliminary test as the civil services aptitude test.

UPSC chairman Prof DP Agrawal has told at the third UPSC foundation day function in New Delhi, that the changes had been well received as they provided candidates a level playing field leading to improved quality of selection. He stated that the UPSC is looking at changes that needed to be made in the Civil Services (Main) examination as well as other exams.

UPSC chairman also told that we must be consistent with the need for selecting the right kind of person from a huge pool consisting of multiple languages, creeds, culture and communities. The commission has now constituted a high-power committee to suggest possible changes in the pattern of Civil Services (Main) Examination.

Agrawal added that the commission’s effort was to ensure that “candidates are judged on the basis of in-depth knowledge and understanding rather than information gathered at the last moment.” In last six decades UPSC has selected nearly quarter of a million candidates after examining over 46 million applicants. It is one of the world largest competitive examinations conducting body in the world.   

Minister of State for Personnel and PMO, V Narayanasmay has also agreed that the recruitment policies of the commission needed to be reviewed and revised to make recruitment faster and also to ensure induction of the civil servants with the right aptitude.

Agrawal also pointing out that UPSC was looking at other examinations to bring them in tune with the present scenario of country’s development and aspirations. He added that UPSC had recommended an alternative system to the government to improve the process of induction of civil service officers from different streams into the All India Service.