(INFO) An introduction to the UPSC : Y R Patil

An introduction to the UPSC : Y R Patil

The Union Public Service Commission annually conducts more than 12 competitive examinations and selects more than 2,500 young aspirants for superior jobs.

Inviting applications

One month's time from the date of announcement is given to send application forms. The Employment News Weekly publishes all these advertisements. National and State newspapers in English and local languages republish these advertisements. The UPSC website also carries the details. While filling up application forms, candidates are advised to take the help of experts from counselling or coaching centres. Application forms are liable to be rejected if they are not filled, and candidates might lose one valuable chance.

The Commission conducts all written examinations except Indian Economic and Geologists examinations in 42 centres throughout India. Later, these two examinations are conducted in 19 centres. Dharwad and Bangalore are centres for written examination in Karnataka.

Different age limits are fixed for different examinations. For National Defence Academy examinations, the age limit is 16 1/2 to 19 years. For special class, railway apprentices, the age limit is 17-21 years. For Combined Defence Academy it is 19-24 years, for Indian Military Academy it is 19-23 years, for Naval Academy it is 19-24 years, for Air Force Academy it is 19-25 years, for Officers training Academy 19-24 years are fixed. For Combined Medical Services and Geologists Services 21-32 years is the age limit. For Central Police Force 20-25 years is the age limit. For other All India Services like IAS, IFS, IPS, Forest, Economic and Engineering Services etc the age limit is 21 - 30 years.

The Commission follows the reservation policy adopted by the Central Government. According to the existing policy, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, defence personnel rendered handicapped in action, short and emergency commissioned officers and other handicapped persons are entitled for benefits of reservation. For more details candidates are advised to refer to each Employment News Bulletin or the UPSC website. For banking services, children of creamy layers are not entitled for reservation benefits.

The intention of the Commission is to attract young talents for service. That is why post-graduation, doctorate or special qualifications are not prescribed. Post-graduation is minimum qualification only for Economic and Geologist Services. Candidates from the General Category can take four chances, whereas the OBC, have seven chances: the SC/ST category enjoys unlimited chances.

Educational qualifications

An exaggerated or wrong or inferiority feeling exists regarding educational qualification required to attempt the Civil Service examinations. Highly talented graduates or post-graduates can take up the examination. Only I class graduates are allowed to apply for the Banking Service exam. For civil services, there are no such limits. For Economic and Geologist Services, only post-graduates can apply. For the rest of the civil services graduation is the minimum qualification required. For NDA and special class railway apprentices examination II PUC is the minimum qualification. Graduation is the minimum qualification for any other examination.

The level of preliminary examination is that of graduation. The level of languages of Main Examination is that of matriculation. The level of main examination is that of honours. The chances of getting appointment as lectures in colleges and universities are less. Doing post-graduation and/or research is like going in search of a thing which does not exist. By doing this, 2-6 years are wasted.

Since the syllabus is very vast a candidate may not pass the examination in his first attempt. There is scope to reappear for examination till age limit permits.

One year central service is equal to two year's service in a State. Because of this rule, you lose 10 years service seniority if you join state service and get promoted to All India Services. You retire, at best, at the Secretary level. You would not reach Principal Secretary level at all. There is no question of reaching constitutional posts like Election Commissioner or Chief Election Commissioner or Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Therefore you should opt for central services first.

By joining any All India services after passing the civil service main examination, you are assured of time scale promotion, throughout your career. In the 5th year of your service you get promotion to senior scale, in the 9th year junior management, selection of mode in 14th year, secretary in 16th year, principal secretary in 24th year and chief secretary in your 31 or 32 year of service. There are opportunities to become Election Commissioner or Chief Election Commissioner or Comptroller and Auditor General of India. These are constitutional posts. After retirement, there are opportunities to get appointed as governor or national security advisor. Similar promotional opportunities are available, to the other 20 services as well.

Is coaching essential?

Students with a brilliant academic career, good background and parental guidance have cleared civil service examinations without training. Such cases are very rare, however. To clear these examinations, at an early stage, coaching is essential. This is the opinion of successful candidates.

The depth and vastness of syllabus demand that one should undergo coaching. The written tests and interview are designed to test whether the candidate is equipped and suitable to be a civil servant or not. In general studies, the memory of candidates is tested. In languages, the economic and correct use of language is tested, in optional subjects of main examination, the analytical and reasoning capacity is tested. In the interview they test whether the candidate is suitable for the Civil Services or not.

By trying repeatedly, 4-5 years are lost which are very critical in matters of seniority. There is a lot of difference in clearing civil service examinations at the age of 23-24 as against 27-28 years.

The purpose of training is to upgrade the academic standards of candidates at an early age. Since the syllabus is very vast, coaching helps the candidates to widen their comprehension and sharpen focusing capacity. In the absence of proper training, the efforts of candidates may go a waste.

With encouragement from parents, the right guidance from coaching centres, coupled with hard work and single-minded devotion, even a reasonably average candidate can achieve extraordinary feat.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald - Internet Edition