Civil Services Aptitude Test : Fundamental Difference

Aspirants for the civil services need to gear up for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination this year. For the first time in the last three decades, a revised preliminary examination — the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) — will be conducted on June 12, which is expected to uniformly test students on their knowledge and aptitude.

Until last year, the Civil Services Examination Prelims had two papers. Paper I, common for all candidates , was a general studies paper, with 150 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes. Paper II was chosen by the candidate from a list of 23 optional subjects. In the revised pattern, though there still will be two papers, each will be of 200 marks and of 120 minutes each. The syllabus for Paper I will be as per the previous years, with students tested on subjects like general science , current events of national and international importance, history of India and the Indian national movement, Indian and world geography, and Indian polity and governance. This year two new subjects have been included in the list, namely, economic and social development and general issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity and ecological change.

Meanwhile, major changes have been introduced in Paper II. General mental ability (earlier part of Paper I) is now what constitutes Paper II. It includes comprehension (general and English), interpersonal skills like communication skills, decision-making and problemsolving , basic numeracy, and analytical ability and logical reasoning. This paper, too, will be common for all candidates.

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Courtesy: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com