NATURE AND DYNAMICS OF EXAMS
In the fast changing global scenario, society is also changing at the same pace. The democratic value is
gearing up and has urged the need of the state for administering qualitatively and effectively. The role of Union
Public Service Commission (UPSC) is quite instrumental to select the proficient candidates who can
administer the society proficiently.
Keeping all the modalities of changing needs of Civil Society, Union Public Service Commission has
introduced new syllabus. Hitherto, a syllabus was conventionally farmed, comprising Social Issues; now the
The syllabus has been restructured, incorporating – Governance, Ecology, Environment, Human Right, Ethics
like topics.
Since the inductance of new topics in the year 2013, the nature and character of questions asked in
the examination have also changed. The paradigm of questions have changed; most of the questions asked
earlier were analytical, but now apart from analysis-based there are also opinion-based (suggestive)
questions.
The changing pattern/trend of questions poses a challenge to the Civil Services Aspirants. The
The conventional trend would not be enough to overcome the requirements of the pattern, that’s why you need a
mentor to better your performance.
STRATEGY FOR PREPARATION OF EXAMS
HOW TO PREPARE FOR PRELIMINARY EXAM?
After a thorough analysis of the Prelims Paper-2013 to 2019, the nature of more than 60 percent of questions
are historical, conceptual, factual and 40 percent are related to the contemporary scenario. But in the Year
2016, the Commission has brought out a change in the nature/pattern of questions. Approximately 30
questions have asked from planning and related policy. To tackle such questions, aspirants have to develop
the skills of understanding in inter-disciplinary approach. In this method, the basic study ought to be done
with a different perspective of contemporary issues in a pragmatic way.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR the MAIN EXAM?
Mains Examinations is written and explanatory. The motive of Commission is to assess the precise, concise
and appropriate answers from the aspirants. In this examination, there are three main expectations from the
students :
A. SUBJECT CLARITY
The moot point of subject clarity is that students fail or unable to understand the limitations i.e., what to
know? How to involve? What to execute? and limitations… as all !! this is the major shortcoming which
prevails among the aspirants. Students work hard, which involves deep and exhaustive studies but they fail
to understand the dynamics and nature of questions.
It is understood that today is the phase of post-Behaviourism under which values are studies
keeping the facts in mind. However, the study should continue considering the target set for the exam.
Students should be smart enough to introspect the fast-changing Economy, Society, Political System,
I.T., Environment, and Policy of the Government. It is inevitable that the Commission will also change the
modality of selecting the candidates. Here is the most suggestive idea for the students that they should
focus and read only the relevant material precisely directed in course. They should avoid exhaustive,
research studies. Balanced studies are proved prolific. Keeping “Time Management” ought to be
always the top priority.
B. PERCEPTUAL CLARITY
The Main intention focusing the Perceptual Clarity is that in this Post-Modernisation, materialism is a
dominating factor and individualism is the offshoot. Mankind is availing higher level of comfort but
apart from humanism and human values, environment and biodiversity are the main concern. Even
though, the Policy Makers on Centre as well as State level carved out all the programs keeping
essentialities. This way the Service givers (bureaucrats), who are appointed by the Commission have to
face such relevant topics of building an ideal condition for society before final selection.
C. BREVITY
Finally, the third and the most potent part of it is how precisely, accurately and cautiously you are
expressing your knowledge. Often aspirants acquire deep/intensive study about the subject matter,
but while explaining in answer book they are not sure where to start? What content to be chosen? How
to summarise? That is why aspirants should primarily comprehend the questions? Students should
read twice or thrice, frame the question in mind, structure it then articulates the whole content. So it is
suggested that they should think about all the aspects and then answer in a balanced way. Here the
most important point, students should carefully follow the keywords in question.
- Comment Aspirants have to present their views in a simple manner.
- Analyze Aspirants have to discuss on various facts related to statement one by one and
in conclusion throw light on nature and structure of the subject. - Critically Aspirant demands deep analysis and has to present positive and negative
analyze at the same time. More focus should have been done over the negative aspects
and in conclusion, solutions should be suggested carefully. - Elaborate Means making a simple statement. In this try to write in a way so that it can
make a statement, more clear and understandable. - Examine Present all the facts and try to explain all inferences in statement and answers
are to be substantiated with practical examples. - The aspirants must understand about their interest in a particular subject which they opt.
- To what extent the Optional Paper is beneficial in the General Studies section?
- What way it will prove helpful in fetching good marks?
- To what extent the optional paper opted by the aspirants provides support in Essay Writing.
- In what way the Optional Paper opted by the aspirants prove prolific while answering in the
interview because there is a need for an appropriate answer in a short time. - Ultimately, the purpose of the Optional Paper is to help out in a multifaceted way, in enhancing the
personality trait fitting the changing dynamics of the society and to improve the abilities of an
aspirant to succeed as Civil Servant.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW ?
The Commission has structured a scientifically listed/approved method to test the mettle of a person/personality & to test how at the time of pressure, he/she performs. As the merit or knowledge of the subject
matter has been tested in the written examination. Similarly, during interview Candidates Expression,
Delivery, Re
ex, Decision Making, Etiquettes, Convincing, Capacity, Introspection, Common Sens
Knowledge and Judgement do matters.
Most of the time, It has been seen that in a complete interview 60 to 70 percent questions are
asked from, Constitution, Indian Polity, International Issues, Current Issus, Indian Economy. These
questions can be answered on the basis of conceptual, practical and balanced ideas. The present phase
of Indian Political System is mainly concerned with Good Governance; the main focus of the work of
Civil Servant is not only to administer but also to be accountable to the society. In these circumstances,
the aspirants are interviewed from different dimensions know the ethical values that contribute to Civil
Society.
Even though, bureaucracy today has made the mission to prove the value of democracy. It has
been evident in the modern age, democracy means gradual progress. Now the concept of democracy in
changing trends signifies the Responsive and Responsible Government by the People for the People. In
this type of democratic governance, bureaucracy ought to be responsible and accountable to the
people. This is the hard fact that in the bureaucracy, examining democratic values is becoming
mandatory. Considering all the above empirical facts, it is understood that the importance of interview
for final selection is potent.
STRATEGY FOR OPTIONAL PAPERS
In due course of Civil Services preparation, opting Optional Papers is one of the key aspects of making
strategy because it is of 500 Marks, apart from General Studies. The Optional Paper is the basic
strength and the aptitude of the aspirants. Under this frame of mind, the introspection, analysis and
pragmatic aspects of the subject keep special relevance. The following points must be considered
before opting optional –
ANALYSIS OF GENERAL STUDIES
For General Studies Paper, UPSC expects the common understanding of knowledge of the students.
For this, no exhaustive and research-oriented answers are expected from aspirants. There has been
clear direction indicated by UPSC, such questions can be answered through the basic common
knowledge. The main motive of UPSC is to evaluate an aspirant’s understanding about the awareness
of existing social, economic, political, cultural and other burning issues of the country.