The Civil Services - What is expected of IRS?

By Vijay Kumar

THE UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) for recruitment to IAS and various other services including IRS. The UPSC has constituted an expert committee to examine the various issues regarding the Civil Services Examination. They have sent a questionnaire to the Revenue Boards for their response on the following questions: -

General

1. Is the existing scheme and pattern of CSE able to fulfill the objective of selecting suitable officers for your Service?

2. Do the candidates selected possess the necessary aptitude and skills required?

3. Are the candidates from some disciplinary areas better suited to the needs of your Service(s)? Please specify the disciplinary areas.

4. Please indicate two issues, which in your opinion are crucial for improving the present selection system.

Existing scheme:

5. Is there an increase in candidates from science /engineering (medical background since the 2011 CSE?

6. Is the perception that the existing scheme of CSE is favourable to 'urban' candidates valid? Is there any bias in favour of candidates from particular disciplines?

7. Does the existing conventional pattern of CSM fulfill the objective of rigorous testing of candidates or equally effective result, if not more, could be achieved through objective type testing?

Subject coverage:

8. Is a common examination format suitable for selection to various Services given the differences in work and career profiles of the Services? Is there a need to (re)introduce additional papers for selection to the Indian Administrative Service/ Indian Foreign Service/ any other Service? If yes, what should be the content and weight of such additional papers.

9. Should English language proficiency be tested in CSP? Is it desirable to continue with the English language qualifying Paper in CSM?

10. Is it necessary to test candidates in an optional subject in CSM? If yes, should they be tested in a subject that they have studied at University? What should the number of optional subject papers?

Eligibility and logistics

11. Are the eligibility criteria prescribed for candidates in the existing CSE scheme appropriate? Specifically, what should be (a) the minimum and maximum age limits and (b) the number of attempts allowed for different categories?

12. Should candidates who have been selected at a previous CSE be allowed to write the Examination again, after joining a Service?

13. What improvements, if any. can be made in the testing and evaluation methodologies adopted in the CSE, in view of the increase in number of candidates taking the Examination? Should minimum percentage of marks at graduation be prescribed in the eligibility criteria?

14. What general measures can be taken to reduce the time-cycle of CSE, from the stage of notification of Examination to the declaration of final results?

15. What changes can be made in the CSE Rules ( e.g., medical examination procedures) to speed up the process of selection?

16. What steps should be taken to streamline the Service allocation process and speed up the operation of Reserve List in CSE?

17. Should the CSE Rules provide for maintaining a wait list of candidates who can be recommended for appointment for vacancies remaining unfilled due to non-joining of candidates?

18. What should be the time frame for implementing changes to the CSE scheme and pattern once they are approved, to provide for adequate lead time to candidates?

Can the IRS be reformed at the recruitment stage?

Nonetheless, it would be interesting to read the response of the Revenue Boards, if and when it is sent.

CBEC F. No. 8/B/185/HRD(HRM)/2015., Dated November 16 2015