DOES THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION NEED REFORM?

The foundations of the present format of the civil services examination can be traced to the Macaulay Report of 1854 which introduced selection by merit and designed an examination on the principle of 'transferability of academic talent to administration'.

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After Independence, the Kothari Committee (1975) recommended a three-tier examination comprising a preliminary exam, a descriptive main examination and an interview.

The initial format

The preliminary exam comprised of an optional subject and a common general studies paper with a weightage of 2:1 respectively. After the preliminary exam, only the names of the shortlisted aspirants for the main examination were released by the UPSC. The question paper, the marks scored by the aspirants, and the minimum qualifying mark were kept classified and not made public. For many years this 'black box' nature of the preliminary exams ensured its smooth conduct as there was no 'locus standi' for an aspirant to question the result.