Major changes in the Civil Services Exam pattern

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS) among others. The examination is one of the toughest examinations in India with a success rate of 0.1%-0.3% with more than 900,000 applicants. 

The government  has approved the following in respect of Civil Services examination: 

Major changes in the Civil Services Exam pattern

An Expert Committee would be constituted to comprehensively examine various issues raised from time to time namely, eligibility, syllabus, scheme and the pattern of Civil Services Examination.

Till the time the Government takes decision on the recommendation of the above Committee, the General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) in the Civil Services(Preliminary) Examination will remain a qualifying paper with the minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33 per cent.

The English Language comprehension skill portion from the General Studies Paper-II of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will continue to remain excluded.

The above decisions are incorporated in the CSE Rules-2015.

The changes in the CSE now will give a chance to directly raise concerns if any arising about the eligibility, syllabus, scheme and pattern of Civil Services Examination. Based on this, the government has taken the step to have the General Studies Paper - II as a qualifying subject in the Civil Services(Preliminary) Examination and shall continue to exclude English Language Comprehension from CSAT.