The expert committee thinking of separate UPSC exams for each services like IAS and IPS

The expert committee set up by the government to review the scheme, syllabus and pattern of UPSC's civil services examination will examine if there is a case for prescribing different papers for selection to different participating services like IAS and IPS, and study the option of expediting selection process through IT solutions including an online examination.

As per terms of reference of the expert panel headed by former IAS officer B S Baswan, it will suggest suitable changes to both the Civil Services (Prelims) exam and Civil Services (Mains) exam, including whether there is a case for having a separate set of papers for IAS, IPS and other services, considering that a different set of skills are required for each of these services. The panel will also review the time-frame within which the examination is conducted and suggest changes to reduce the time taken for selection of candidates by utilizing information and communication technologies and revisiting procedures mandated by the examination rules.

"The purpose is to overhaul the entire examination scheme and suit the selection process to the skills required for each set of services," a senior officer of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) told TOI. The panel will evaluate the effectiveness of the current examination scheme in selecting suitable candidates keeping in mind the need for inclusiveness in the selection process; fair mix of candidates from different disciplines; skill-sets required for a modern, effective and efficient civil service; and trainability of selected candidates, after reviewing recommendations of previous expert committees in this regard.

The Baswan panel will take a fresh look at the number of papers in each stage, mix of compulsory and optional subjects, their structure (objective or conventional) and duration, broad areas to be covered in each paper, medium of examination, marking scheme, weightage of marks and system of evaluation "so as to arrive at an examination pattern that is holistic and does not exhibit any bias for or against candidates from any particular stream, subject area, language, or region," says the August 12 UPSC notice on constitution of the panel.

The panel, which will have UPSC additional secretary MP Tangirala as its member-secretary, will submit its report in six months. It will also suggest the timeframe for implementation of the revised pattern of examination.

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Courtesy: The Times of India