UPSC Examination 2010 Application form available on UPSCPORTAL Store

UPSC 2010 | Appendix IV : Special Instructions to Candidates

Civil Services Examination, 2010
Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP
Dated : 02-01-2010
Last Date : 01.02.2010

Appendix IV : Special Instructions to Candidates for objective type tests

1. Articles permitted inside Examination Hall
Clip board or hard board (on which nothing is written), a good quality H.B. pencil for making responses on the Answer Sheet, eraser, pencil sharpener and a pen containing blue or black ink. Answer Sheet and sheet for rough work will be supplied by the Invigilator.

2. Articles not permitted inside Examination Hall
Do not bring into the Examination Hall any article other than those specified above, e.g., books, notes, loose sheets, electronic or any other type of calculators, mathematical and drawing instruments, Log Tables, stencils of maps, slide rules, Test Booklets and rough sheets pertaining to earlier session(s),  etc.

Mobile phones, pagers or any other communication devices are not allowed inside the premises where the examination is being conducted.  Any infringement of these instructions should entail disciplinary action including ban from future examination.

Candidates are advised in their own interest not to bring any of the banned item including mobile phones /pagers to the venue of the examination, as arrangements for safekeeping cannot be assured.

3.  PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWERS 

THERE WILL BE PENALTY (NEGATIVE MARKING) FOR WRONG ANSWERS MARKED BY A CANDIDATE IN THE OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTION PAPERS.

(I)     There are four alternatives for the answers to every question.  For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

(ii)    If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question.

(iii)    If a question is left blank i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.

4. Unfair means strictly prohibited
No candidates shall copy from the papers of any other candidate nor permit his papers to be copied nor give nor attempt to give nor obtain nor attempt to obtain irregular assistance of any description.

5. Conduct in Examination Hall
No candidates should misbehave in any manner or create disorderly scene in the Examination Hall or harass the staff employed by the Commission for the conduct of the examination. Any such misconduct will be severely penalised.

6. Answer Sheet particulars
(i) Write in ink or ball point pen your Centre and subject followed by test booklet series (in bracket), subject code and roll number at the appropriate space provided on the answer sheet at the top. Also encode (in pencil) your booklet series (A, B, C or D, as the case may be), subject code and roll number in the circles provided for the purpose in the answer sheet. The guidelines for writing the above particulars and for encoding the above particulars are given in Annexure. In case the booklet series is not printed on the test booklet or answer sheet is un-numbered, please report immediately to the Invigilator and get the test booklet/answer sheet replaced.

(ii) All corrections and changes in writing the roll number must be initialed by the candidates as well as by the Invigilator and countersigned by the Supervisor.

(iii) Immediately after commencement of the examination please check that the test booklet supplied to you does not have any unprinted or torn or missing pages or items etc. If so, get it replaced by a complete test booklet of the same series and subject.

7. Do not write your name or anything other than the specific items of information asked for, on the answer sheet/test booklet/sheet for rough work.

8. Do not fold or mutilate or damage or put any extraneous marking in the Answer Sheet. Do not write anything on the reverse of the answer sheet.

9. Use HB pencil to mark answer
Since the answer sheets will be evaluated on computerised machines, candidates should exercise due care in handling and feeling up the answer sheets.  They should use HB pencil only to darken the circles.  For writing in boxes, they should use blue or black pen.  Since the entries made by the candidates by darkening the circles will be taken into account while evaluating the answer sheets on computerised machines, they should make these entries very carefully.

10. Method of marking answers
In the "Objective Type" of examination, you do not write the answers. For each question (hereinafter referred to as "Item") several suggested answers (hereinafter referred to as "Responses") are given. You have to choose one response to each item.

The question paper will be in the Form of Test Booklet. The booklet will contain item bearing numbers 1, 2, 3 ............ etc. Under each item, Responses marked (a), (b), (c), (d) will be given. Your task will be to choose the correct response. If you think there is more than one correct response, then choose what you consider the best response.

In any case, for each item you are to select only one response. If you select more than one response, your response will be considered wrong.

In the Answer Sheet, Serial Nos. from 1 to 160 are printed. Against each numbers, there are circles marked (a), (b), (c) and (d). After you have read each item in the Test Booklet and decided which one of the given responses is correct or the best, you have to mark your response by completely blackening with pencil to indicate your response. Ink should not be used for blackening the circle on the Answer Sheet.

For example, if the correct answer to item 1 is (b), then the circle containing the letter (b) is to be completely blackened with pencil as shown below :-

Example : (a)      (c)       (d)

To change a wrong marking, erase it completely and re-mark the new choice.

11. Signature on Attendance List
Your are required to write the serial number of the Answer Sheet and Test Booklet and Series of Test Booklet issued to you on the Attendance List and to sign in appropriate column against your name. Any change or correction in these particulars should be authenticated by the candidate by putting his signatures.

12. Please read and abide by the instructions on the cover of Test Booklet.
If any candidate indulges in disorderly or improper conduct, he will render himself liable for disciplinary action and/or imposition of a penalty as the Commission may deem fit.

Annexure

How to fill in the Answer Sheet of objective type tests in the Examination Hall
Please follow these instructions very carefully. you may note that since the answer sheets are to be evaluated on machine, any violation of these instructions may result in reduction of your score for which you would yourself be responsible.

Before you mark your responses on the Answer Sheet, you will have to fill in various particulars in it.

As soon as the candidates receives the Answer Sheet, be should check that it is numbered at the bottom. If it is found un-numbered he should at once get it replaced by a numbered one.

You will see from the Answer Sheet that you will have to fill in the top line, which reads thus :

UPSC 2010 | Appendix III : List of Post Offices

Civil Services Examination, 2010
Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP
Dated : 02-01-2010
Last Date : 01.02.2010

Appendix III : List of Head Post Offices/Post Offices where UPSC application forms are available

Andhra Pradesh Circle : Hyderabad GPO, Hyderabad Jubilee, Kachiguda Stn., Khairatabad, Secunderabad, Trimulgherry, Adilabad, Anantapur, Arundelpet (Guntur), Chittoor, Cuddapah, Eluru, Kakinada, Karimnagar, Khammam, Kurnool, Machilipatnam, Mahboobnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nellore, Nizamabad, Ongole, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Vikarabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal.

Assam Circle : Guwahati, Barpeta, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Mangaldoi, Nagaon, Nalbari, North Lakhimpur, Sibsagar, Silchar, Tezpur, Tinsukia.

Bihar Circle : Patna, GPO, Bankipur, Arrah, Aurangabad, B. Deoghar, Bokaro Steel City, Banka, Battiah, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Biharsharif, Buxar, Chaibasa, Chapra, Daltonganj, Darbhanga, Dhanbad, Dumka, Gaya, Giridih, Gopalganj, Gumla, Hajipur, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Katihar, Madhubani, Motihari, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nawada, Purnea, Ranchi, Saharsa, Samastipur, Sasaram, Sitamarhi, Siwan.

Delhi Circle : Delhi GPO, New Delhi, Indra Prastha, Ramesh Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Lodi Road, Krishna Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Parliament Street, UPSC PO.

Gujarat Circle : Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Amreli Anand, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Dahod, Godhra, Himatnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kheda, Mehesana, Navrangpura, Navsari, Palanpur, Patan, Porbandar, Rajkot, Revdi Bazar, Surat, Surendranagar, Valsad, Vadodara.

Haryana Circle : Ambala GPO, Ambala City, Bahadurgarh, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hissar, Jind, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Narnaul, Panipat, Rohtak, Sirsa, Sonepat.

Himachal Pradesh Circle : Shimla, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Keylong, Kulu, Mandi, Nahan, Recong, Peo, Solan, Una.

Jammu & Kashmir Circle : Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu, Kathua, Leh, Rajouri, Udhampur.

UPSC 2010 | Appendix II : General Instructions

Civil Services Examination, 2010
Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP
Dated : 02-01-2010
Last Date : 01.02.2010

Appendix II : General Instructions

1. Candidates must use only the form supplied with the information Brochure purchased from any of the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices listed in Appendix III. Form should be purchased from designated post offices only and not from any other agency. Candidates must use the form supplied with the Information Brochure only and they should in no case use photocopy/reproduction/unauthorisedly printed copy of the Form. The form will NOT be supplied by the Commission’s office.

2. The application form must be filled in by the candidates in their own handwriting. Since this form will be processed on computerised machines, candidates should exercise due care in handling and filling up the application form. They should use HB pencil only to darken the circles. For writing in the boxes, they should use blue or black pen.

Since the entries made by the candidates by darkening the circles will be taken into account while processing the applications on computerised machines, they should make these entries very carefully and accurately. Entries in the boxes are meant for confirmatory purposes and these should also, therefore, be made correctly. There should be no variation between the entries made by the candidate by darkening the circles and those written in the accompanying boxes.  

In case of any variation between the entries made by the Candidates in the boxes and the accompanying circle, the entries in the boxes will be treated as authentic and final.

3. Candidates should ensure that the signatures appended by them in all the places viz. in their application form, Attendance List etc. and in all the correspondence with the Commission, should be identical and there should be no variation of any kind. If any variation is found in the signatures appended by him at different places, his candidature will be liable to be cancelled by the Commission.

4. No change in the entries made in original application form will be allowed under any circumstances.

5. The candidates are advised in their own interest to ensure that the applications reach the Commission’s Office on or before the closing date. Applications received in the Commission’s Office after the closing date will not be considered.

6. While filling in his application form, the candidate should carefully decide about his choice for the centre and optional subject for the examination. More than one application from a candidate giving different centres and/or optional subjects will not be accepted in any case. Even if a candidate sends more than one completed application, the Commission will accept only one application at their discretion and the Commission’s decision in the matter shall be final.

7. On the Acknowledgement Card, the candidates should write their application form No. (as printed below the bar code on the form) and the name of examination viz. "Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2010". They should also write clearly and legibly their mailing address on the Acknowledgement Card. A postage stamp of Rs. 6/- should be affixed on the card. The Acknowledgement Card should not be stapled or pinned or tagged or pasted with the Application Form.

Eligibility Conditions (in brief)

(i) Age limits :

Prescribed age-limits are 21-30 years as on 1st August, 2010 for all the services/posts  (Upper age limit relaxable for SCs/Sts, OBCs and certain other categories as specified in Para 3(ii) of Notice).

(ii) Educational Qualifications :

Degree of a recognised University or equivalent. (Para 3(iii) of Notice).

(iii) No. of permissible attempts :

Four (Seven attempts for OBCs and P.H. Candidates belonging to General Category and no limit for SCs/STs (Para 3 (iv) of Notice).

(iii) Fee :

Rs. 50/- (Rupees fifty only) (No fee for Females/SCs/STs/Physically disabled only).

Instructions to candidates for filling up the Application Form for the
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2010.

Side 1 of Application Form

Column 1 : Examination for which applying

Darken the circle against "CSP", in the box pertaining to Name of examination, write CSP starting from the first box on the left. Also write 2010 in the boxes meant for year of examination. Candidates are advised to ensure that the name of Examination viz. CSP is correctly written by them in the box. Any error in this regard may result in rejection of their application form.

Column 2 : Fee

• If you have paid the requisite fee of Rs. 50/- (Rupees fifty only), darken circle 1 and write 1 in the box; or
• If you have not paid the fee and are claiming fee remission as Female, SC, ST or Physically disabled, darken circle 2 and write 2 in the box.
• N.B. : Fee is payable only in the form of Central Recruitment Fee Stamp, as per instructions against Column 12.

Column 3 : (I) Whether Physically Handicapped?

• If you are not a physically handicapped person, darken circle 1 for No and write 1 in the box; or
• If you are a physically handicapped person, darken circle 2 for yes and write 2 in the box.
• (II) If yes, indicate category
• Fill up this Column only if your answer to Column 3(I) is yes.
• If you are Orthopaedically handicapped, darken circle 1 and write 1 in the box; or
• If you are Blind, darken circle 2 and write 2 in the box; or
• If you are Deaf-Mute, darken circle 3 and write 3 in the box.

Column 4 : Community

• If you belong to SC, darken circle 1 and write 1 in the box; or
• If you belong to ST, darken circle 2 and write 2 in the box; or
• If you belong to OBC, darken circle 3 and write 3 in the box; or
• If you belong to General Category (Others), darken circle 4 and write 4 in the box.

Note 1 : Candidates belonging to OBCs but coming in the Creamy Layer and thus not being entitled to OBC reservation should indicate their community as General Category (Others) Code No. 4".

Note 2 : Candidates belonging to neither SC, ST, nor OBC communities should write Code No. 4 (General Category) against the Column for Community and not leave it blank.

Note 3 : No change in the community status indicated by a candidate in his/her application form for the Preliminary Examination will ordinarily be allowed by the Commission at a subsequent stage.

Column 5 : Sex

• If you are Male, darken circle 1 and write 1 in the box; or
• If you are Female, darken circle 2 and write 2 in the box;

Column 6 : Nationality

• If you are an Indian national, darken circle 1 and write 1 in the box; or
• If you are not an Indian national, darken circle 2 and write 2 in the box.

UPSC 2010 | Appendix I : Exam Plan, Scheme and Syllabi

Civil Services Examination, 2010
Examination Notice No. 04/2010-CSP
Dated : 02-01-2010
Last Date : 01.02.2010

Section I : Plan of Examination

The competitive examination comprises two successive stages :

• (i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination; and
• (ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts.

2. The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 450 marks in the subjects set out in subsection (A) of Section II. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year in the various Services and Posts. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in a year will be eligibe for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.

3. The Main Examination will consist of a written examination and an interview test. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects set out in sub-section (B) of Section II. Also see Note (ii) under para I of Section II (B).

4. Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test vide sub-section ‘C’ of Section II. However, the papers on Indian Languages and English will be of qualifying nature. Also see Note (ii) under para 1 of Section II (B). The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 300 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).

Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and posts.

Go to UPSC Examination 2010 Notification

Civil Service Exam 2009

List of Top 50 candidates who have been recommended for appointment including General/Physically/Challenged/Backward/Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes.

• The number of vacancies reported by the government for the Indian administrative service is 120 (60 General, 33 Other Backward classes, 04 Scheduled castes and 10 Scheduled tribes ). For the Indian foreign service is 26 (13 General, 08 Other backward classes, 04 Scheduled castes and 01 Scheduled tribes).
• For the Indian Police Services Group ‘A’ is 546 (282 General, 146 Other backward classes , 81 Scheduled castes and 37 Scheduled tribes).
• For the Central services Group’b’ is 59 (34 General, 13 Other backward Classes , 08 Scheduled Castes and 04 Scheduled Tribes).

Civil Service Main Examination And Compulsory Subjects By Sanjeev Kabeer

Dear Aspirants,
IAS exam is conducted by the UPSC every year. The number of vacancies have been around 750 for last few years. However the number of candidates who actually appear in the exam is between 1.5 to 2 lacs each year. Around 12-13 times candidates qualify in PT exam to write the mains exam. Therefore the competition is enormous. So if you wish to prepare and want to significantly increase your chance of selection be ready for complete devotion for at least one year before the exam.

The number of hours of study each day varies person to person and depends on individual's retention, intelligence and background knowledge level. So it may range between 6 hrs to 14 hrs everyday.

Coaching institutions are important to give you a direction so that one does not get deviated during the course of studies because the preparation requires

Employment News/Rozgar Samachar will carry in its issue dated 02-01-2010, details of the Civil Service Examination, 2010 to be conducted by UPSC. Reader may kindly note and book their copies.

Junior Research Fellowship Program to Work in CSIR Funded Project

Job Description : Junor Resarch Fellow to work in CSIR funded project “Hydrothermal/Solvothermal synthesis of Luminescent Microporous Materials”

Contact address :
Prof. M. Saratchandra Babu
Department of Chemistry
GITAM Institute of Science
GITAM University
Visakhapatnam-530045
Andhra Pradesh, India

Name : Prof. M. Saratchandra Babu

Email : mscbabu[at]yahoo.com

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Syllabus for Junior Engineer Recruitment

The standard of the questions in Engineering subjects will be approximately of the level of Diploma in Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical etc) from a recognized Institute, Board or University and recognized by All India Board of Technical Education.

All the questions will be set in SI units.

The details of the syllabus are given below.

PAPER I – Part i (General Intelligence & Reasoning):

The Syllabus for General Intelligence would include questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. The test may include questions on analogies, similarities, differences, space visualization, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series etc. The test will also include questions designed to test the candidate’s abilities to deal with abstract ideas and symbols and their relationships, arithmetical computations and other analytical functions.

PAPER II – Part ii (General Awareness):

Questions will be aimed at testing the candidate's general awareness of the environment around him/her and its application to society. Questions will also be designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observations and experience in their scientific aspect as may be expected of any educated person. The test will also include questions relating to India and its neighbouring countries especially pertaining to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity, and Scientific Research, etc. Thesequestions will be such that they do not require a special study of any discipline.

PAPER II, PAPER I – Part iii (General Engineering):

A. Civil Engineering

Building Materials:
Physical and Chemical properties, classification, standard tests, uses and manufacture/quarrying of materials e.g. building stones, silicate based materials, cement (Portland), Asbestos products, Timber and Wood based Products, laminates, bituminous materials, paints, varnishes.

Surveying:
Principles of surveying, working of prismatic compass and bearings, planetable surveying, theodolite traverse, adjustment of theodolite, levelling and contouring, curvature, refraction correction, permanent adjustment of dumpy level, methods of contouring and uses of a contour map, tachometric survey.

IAS profiles undergo sea change

About this video: Thousands of young Indians are dreaming of fancy jobs and fat pay packets. But even in the face of high profile careers, the civil services have not lost their charm.

Result for CDS Exam ( II ) -2009 announced

The Union Service Public Commission has announced the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (II)-2009 held in September, 2009. 8591 candidates have qualified for being interviewed by the Service Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence, for admission to (i) Indian Militry Academy, Dehradun 129th Course commencing in July, 2010 (ii) Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala Course commencing in July, 2010 (iii) Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course for 188th F(P) Course commencing in July, 2010 (iv) Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai 92nd SSC Course (for Men) commencing in October, 2010 and (v) Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, 6th SSC (Women Non-Technical) Course commencing in October, 2010.

The candidature of all the candidates is provisional. In accordance with the conditions of the admission to the examination, they are required to submit the original certificates in support of age, educational qualification, NCC (C) etc. claimed by them to Army Headquarters in case of IMA/SSC as their first choice and to Naval Headquarters “DMPR” (OI & R Section), in case of Naval first choice; and to PO3 (A) Air Headquarters in case of Air Force first choice. The original Certificates are to be submitted within two weeks of completion of the SSB Interview and not later than May 13, 2010 (Ist August, 2010 in case of SSC only).

UPSC has a “Facilitation Counter” in its campus where Candidates can obtain any information / clarification regarding their examinations / recruitments during working hours in person or over telephone Nos. 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098543. Result is available on PIB website i.e www.pib.nic.in  and also on the U.P.S.C. website i.e. www.upsc.gov.in.

Year Book 2010 for Civil Services Other Competitive Exams

Year books are very useful as GS subjects for Civil Services and other competitive exams. Year book 2010 of different pulishers is available at UPSCPORTAL Online Store.

Manorama Year Book 2010 MRP: Rs. 150 Product Details Author: N/A Publisher: Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd Edition: 2010 Pages: N/A
Chronicle Year Book 2010 MRP: Rs. 165 Product Details Author: N/A Publisher: Chronicle Publications Edition: 2010 Pages: N/A

To see the year books 2010 available at store, Click on the following link :

Year book 2010 at UPSC Store

To see and buy other books of competitive exams, Click here

UPSC Reading List for General Studies

• Prepared By: Rajeev Kumar,
• Assistant Professor (Economics)
• SRCC, University of Delhi
• Email : rajeevsrcc[at]gmail.com

General science: Questions generally are based on the application of science in real life. Specturm’s science book is good. NCERT 9th and 10th

Currents Events of National and International Importance: The Hindu, One of HT or ToI and frontline.

One monthly competition magazine: Wizard, Chronicle, CS Times etc. Wizard Current Affairs comes in Feb or March

History of India and Indian National Movement: NCERT 11th and 12th standards, Bipin Chandra
In ancient and modern history focus on culture (spectrum’s culture is available).

Indian and world Geography: NCERT of 11th and 12th, Detailed study of the maps of India and the world. Avoid theoretical part. Indian Physical Geography is required

Indian Polity: NCERT’s old book on Indian Polity. Indian Constitution by DD BASU or Subhash Kashyap or PM Bakshi and current political developments from the newspapers and frontline. Wizard Polity for PT

General Mental Ability: No specific preparation is needed. There are some books like Aggrawal’s mental ability.

Indian Economy: Economic Survey Latest, Pratiyogita Darpan’s special series on Economy

India 2010 govt of India publication

Decision on inclusion of Tulu in 8th Schedule soon: Moily

Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily today said the Centre would soon take a decision on inclusion of Tulu language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

Delivering valedictory address in the four-day World Tulu Conference here, he said along with Tulu language, there were other 12 languages, including Kodava, which were being considered for inclusion in the 8th Schedule.

''The S M Krishna Government in Karnataka had long back recommended for the inclusion of the language in the Schedule.

However, a committee formed to look into the issue, withheld the proposal because issue related to use of the language in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations was not sorted out.

There was the provision to write the UPSC examinations in the languages that have been included in the 8th Schedule,'' he said.

Download Indian Economic Services(IES)-EE-EC Solutions (Answer Keys) Year 2009

Download Indian Economic Services(IES)-Mechnical-I Solutions (Answer Keys) Year 2009

Residential Coaching Programme for Muslim Candidates by Haj Committee

For 24-year-old Asif Yatnan from Solapur, the journey from working the night shifts as a BPO employee to becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer will be a tough and arduous one. But he is ready for the challenge, and arrived in Mumbai last week to participate in the 14-month residential coaching programme being conducted for Muslim candidates by the Haj Committee.

Yatnan is among the 42 candidates, out of 300 applicants, to be selected for the programme. The students have been put up on the 10th and the 11th floor of Haj House, and for the next year, will be literally cut off from the world, with no mobile phones, as they prepare to take the competitive Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams. The first lecture was held on Sunday for the selected participants, of which 16 are girls.

The need for more Muslims in the bureaucracy is underlined by the fact that, despite comprising 13.5% of the population, just 3% of IAS officers, 4% of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and meagre 1.8% of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers are from the community, according to government data.