3 things you can learn from UPSC exam’s top 3 rank holders — Anudeep Durishetty, Anu Kumari and Sachin Gupta

IF Anudeep Durishetty of Telangana who topped the civil services exam 2017, symbolises perseverance, it is sheer determination which made Haryana’s Anu Kumari, a mother of a four-year-old child, the all india 2nd rank holder. Then, what you can learn from Sachin Gupta, who bagged 3rd rank in UPSC? Yes, it’s how not to…

10 things to know about guokao, the exam that selects Chinese civil servants; 5-hour test, 7-yr jail for cheating…

ON SUNDAY, about 1.1 million candidates appeared for China's National Public Servant Examination, a huge jump from the last year's 984,000 aspirants, according to reports quoting China’s official news agency, Xinhua. The reports further said that this year's exam in China saw an increase of 76,000 applicants for the grassroots positions in difficult and remote areas. Here are 10 things to know about the Chinese civil service examination:

KR Nandini tops civil services exam 2016; 2nd topper Anmol Sher Singh Bedi prefers IFS; 10 Things to Know

Top 25 Candidates

Ms KR Nandini from Karnataka topped the civil services examination, 2016, making it the third year in a row when a woman candidate stands first in India's inarguably the toughest examination, with Ira Signal being the topper in 2014 and Tina Dhabi in 2015. Whereas Nandini, now an IRS (Customs and Central Excise) officer will opt for IAS, the second position holder — Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, a computer engineer from BITS Pilani, is opting to be a diplomat. Gopalkrishna Ronanki stands third among the list of 1099 successful candidates who will be allocated in services such as IAS, IFS, IPS and Group “A” and Group “B”. Here are 10 things about the UPSC results as announced on Wednesday evening:

Will new civil service exam syllabus checkmate engineering students? 10 observations

UPSC Toppers: What backgrounds are they from?

IF THE union personnel minister and MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh’s remarks on Sunday are interpreted, there is a possibility that the government may go in for a more level-playing field for the students belonging to arts and commerce vis-à-vis engineering students in future civil services examinations. While interacting with a group of civil services aspirants in New Delhi on Sunday, minister Singh talked about the allegation that the present syllabus and pattern of civil services/IAS examinations tend to benefit students from mathematics and engineering backgrounds. Here are 10 observations about preparation for the new syllabus:

You need just 50% to crack IAS exam; but don’t think it’s a doddle

WHEN high cut-off marks (even 100%?) for admission in Delhi University was the talk of the town last month, did anyone realize that many of those brilliant students would ultimately aspire to score just 50% or a little more in UPSC-conducted civil services examinations in a few years from now and turn IAS, IFS, IPS etc.? Sounds odd, but yes, you need just 50% marks to become an IAS, clearly showing how difficult the examination is. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the agency which conducts the year-long examination, on Tuesday made public the…

What MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh told a group of IAS aspirants about UPSC exam pattern

MoS in PMO Singh with an IAS aspirant

IN UPSC examinations, there should be a level-playing field to all student groups regardless of their background -- rural or urban upbringing, their stream or subject of study in high school or graduation, etc., says MoS personnel and PMO Dr Jitendra Singh while talking to a group of civil service aspirants in New Delhi on Thursday. The minister’s statement came at a time when the government decided to…

UPSC’s CSAT Row: What existing civil servants have to say

UPSC Headquarters

ON MONDAY, the Central government gave in to the pressure of protesters and section of political parties when it announced the English comprehensive skills included in the UPSC’s preliminary examination, won’t be counted for gradation or merit. But, protesting aspirants were still not happy. What they want now is the scrapping of the entire Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), arguing that this new test format discriminates against those hailing from rural background. BoI here picks out comments posted in social media sites by a few serving and retired IAS officers:

56 inch chest: Did you know an IRTS recruit needs to pass a chest expansion test? 10 FAQs on Civil Services Exam

DID you know, an Indian civil service recruit needs a special medical status in terms of vision, height, chest, chest expansion etc. if he or she wishes to join a technical service like the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS), something you don’t need to become an IAS or Indian Railway Personnel Service?  Or, did you know, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan could still be an IRTS or IRS officer, but he is ineligible to be an IAS or IPS? Here are 10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers regarding Civil Services Examination (CSE):

UPSC releases reserve list of Civil Service (Main) 2012 examination; who are those lucky 90?

THIS piece of news comes as a god sent gift to the 90 odd civil services aspirants who would have never thought they would make it into the plum jobs under Central government after they were rejected a year ago. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Thursday released the reserve list of civil services (main) 2012 examinations. The candidates are supposed to check this reserved list at…

When one Delhi locality houses 50,000 aspirants chasing civil services dream

“The IAS-Wallahs”. Amid the high-voltage general elections when apolitical news have virtually disappeared from newspapers, both national and regional, there was a highly readable piece on Sunday in HT’s popular magazine called Brunch about young men and women spending their best years chasing the civil services dream. Putting together many anecdotes and live examples, it also narrates lives of what it calls IAS coaching ghettos of Delhi viz.

Aspiring women civil servants in China protest over invasive health test

A GROUP of aspiring women civil servants in China recently staged a protest in the city of Wuhan holding banners saying: “What does your menstrual history have to do with becoming a civil servant?” Future civil servants were protesting against the detailed medical examination on a range of health issues including the state of a woman’s uterus, cervix and vagina,...

Changing pattern of civil services examination to come up in Rajya Sabha

THE questions related to changes in civil services examination would come up in Parliament. An unstarred question on changes in civil services examination has been admitted for Rajya Sabha on November 18, 2010.

In a major step to change the civil services pattern, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently announced a new syllabus for the preliminary examinations, replacing the optional subject with an aptitude test. But many students are not happy as they find the new syllabus much tougher than the earlier one.

The other questions that would come up in Rajya Sabha on the same day include definition of good governance, extension of senior officers, amendment of the RTI Act, grade pay for deputy secretary and under secretary and recommendations to make RTI more effective, just to name a few.

Two major starred questions where minister would answer in Parliament are on reserved posts for ST, SC and OBCs, and increased corruption in the country.

Global Window: Finland companies complain of Russia’s bureaucratic bottlenecks

Finland companies that are doing good business with Russia by increasing their exports have now complained bureaucratic bottlenecks in Russia. According to a survey by Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce, the biggest challenges for Finnish companies are still the customs, as well as bureaucracy in general and the shortage of qualified personnel.

Finnish companies are however optimistic. About 70% of them believe that their exports to Russia will increase over the next six months as the Russian economy is set to grow at five percent in the coming years. 

A Kashmiri doctor tops the list of civil services exams, 2009

Dr Shah Faesal, a Kashmiri doctor who lost his father to militants eight years ago, has topped the Civil Services Examination, 2009. A school teacher’s son from the troubled valley, Dr Faesal made into the elite service in his first attempt itself. His father was killed by unidentified militants in 2002, just three days before he took the pre-medical exams. Prakash Rajpurohit, a BTech from IIT Delhi, stood second. This is his second attempt. Ms Iva Sahay, an MA in geography and the topper among female candidates, secured the overall third rank. This is her first attempt.

What It Means

Out of the first three toppers, two got into the services in their first attempt. What’s more, of the Top 25, six made into the merit list in their first attempt, four in second attempt, 11 in third attempt, three in fourth attempt and one in seventh attempt. Also, that 15 out of Top 25 appeared from Delhi indicates how cult Delhi has still remained vibrant for UPSC preparations.

Number Does Matter

As high as 875 candidates were recommended for appointment including 399 General (including 21 physically challenged candidates), 273 Other Backward Classes (including 9 physically challenged), 127 Scheduled Castes and 76 Scheduled Tribes candidates.

What It Means

The intake is almost double thanks to the special recruitment of IPS officers. Will help revamping our police system.

Sex Ratio

Out of 875 selected candidates, 680 are male and 195 female.

What It Means

It symbolizes a status quo. A mere 22% of female recruits means Indian women who perform well in Class 12 exams and beyond, have not yet taken UPSC seriously.

Educational Qualification

The Top 25 candidates comprise 13 engineers; 9 commerce, management, humanities, science and social sciences, three doctors. Of these, 21 took the examination in English medium and four in Hindi medium.

What It Means

Four Hindi medium students’ entry into in the list of Top 25 is an interesting trend.

Action and Appointments

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) which conducted a study to assess the key issues and constraints in implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005, has pointed out that there is inadequate planning by the public authorities in regard to supply of information. The study further talks about low awareness about the Act in rural areas and among women, lack of clear accountability in respect of various functions, etc. The study was commissioned by the government.