New Delhi: An official notification has recently been issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), announcing the changes made in the pattern for civil service examinations. The examination is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) every year, to select candidates for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), etc. According to the official notification, the new pattern would give more weightage on assessing general studies and aptitude skills of a candidate.
Moreover, the notification also stated that, this year, for the first time ever, the Civil Services (Mains) exams will have a separate paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude. This paper (on ethics, integrity and aptitude) will contain questions to test aspirant’s attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his / her problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts, faced by him / her in dealing with the society.
In addition, the marks distribution of different papers has been changed. Besides, in addition to two optional papers of 250 marks each, from civil service (main) exam 2013, the number of compulsory subject papers of general studies has also been increased to four (with 250 marks each). Previously, candidates were required to appear for only two compulsory papers on general studies and two optional papers of 300 marks each. The total marks for the main exams will be 1800.
However, the paper on essay and English comprehension will remain to be of 300 marks. After the official announcement of changes, UPSC has issued the notification for civil services preliminary examination 2013. The notification for civil service exam 2013 was apparently on hold due to the proposed changes being considered by the Government. The online registration process for the same has already been started and the last date for filling online application is April 4. This year, the civil services preliminary examination is scheduled to be held on May 26.
