CONTEXT

• The civil services exam format originates from the Macaulay Report (1854) which introduced merit-based recruitment.
• Post-Independence, the Kothari Committee (1975) proposed the three-tier structure:

1. Preliminary Exam
2. Main Exam
3. Interview (Personality Test)

• This structure aimed to balance academic competence with administrative aptitude.

CONCEPT: WHY REFORM IS NECESSARY

• Originally, the Prelims used an optional + GS paper (2:1 weight), and details were undisclosed, ensuring smooth, uncontested conduct.
• The Right to Information Act (2005) increased demands for transparency, leading to scrutiny of UPSC’s evaluation methods.
•  Based on S.K. Khanna Committee (2010), the Prelims format changed in 2011 — replacing the optional with CSAT (Paper II).
• However, CSAT’s emphasis on English and reasoning disadvantaged non-English/Humanities students, triggering protests.
•  The government later made CSAT qualifying in nature — marks not added to merit — but disparities remain.

CURRENT: ISSUES & REFORMS NEEDED

 Preliminary Exam:

•  Acts as a “jealous gatekeeper” — screens out over 95% of aspirants arbitrarily.
• Paper-I is highly unpredictable, leading to excessive stress and coaching dependency.
• Paper-II, though qualifying, still favors Science/Engineering backgrounds over Humanities.

Main Examination:

• Current GS format includes 20 short questions — emphasizes factual recall over analysis.
•  Lack of analytical or long-form questions undermines assessment of administrative insight.
• Many aspirants choose scoring optionals over domain relevance — defeating the spirit of specialisation.

Suggested Reforms:

• Replace optional paper with two governance and policy papers — more relevant to public service.
• Make Prelims more transparent, less unpredictable; reduce over-dependence on rote knowledge.
• Introduce a balanced mix of factual + analytical questions in Mains to assess real aptitude.
•  Ensure equity across disciplines in qualifying papers; simplify structure without diluting quality.

MAINS QUESTION

• Critically examine the current structure of the civil services examination in India. What reforms would you suggest to make it more effective in assessing administrative aptitude and academic competence?
• Discuss the impact of the Right to Information Act (2005) on the transparency and evaluation methods of the UPSC. How has this led to changes in the examination format?