Hundreds of civil services aspirants from Mysuru appeared for the preliminary examination, which was conducted for the first time in Mysuru by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The examinations held in two sessions across 11 centres in the city passed off peacefully, said Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha.
All the answer scripts had been collected and dispatched, she said. Close to 60 per cent of the 4,606 candidates, who had registered, wrote the examination.
While the first paper on General Studies was held between 9.30 am and 11.30 am, the second paper on Civil Services Aptitude Test was between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm.
Shilpa, a resident of Mysuru, who wrote the exams, told The Hindu that candidates, who had prepared well, found the papers easy.
Decision welcomed
But, it was the UPSC’s decision to hold the preliminary examination in Mysuru that was welcomed by many. Satyanarayana Gowda, convenor of Jnanabuthi, which offers free coaching for competitive exams, said the move will help a lot of candidates from Mysuru, particularly the poor, who will have to spend money on travel and food if they have to write the examination in Bengaluru.
Besides, the candidates from Mysuru will be in a better frame of mind to write the examination if it is held in their own city. Ms. Shilpa, who had travelled to Bengaluru to write the examination last time, recalled she found it difficult to locate the centre in Bengaluru.
“This time, I had time to come back home after the first session, have lunch and refresh, before returning for the second session,” she said.
40 per cent absentees
Meanwhile, Mr. Satyanarayana Gowda said that it was normal for 40 per cent of the registered candidates to absent themselves. “They absent themselves if they do not prepare for the exams properly,” he said.
Normally, candidates, who are not confident of doing well, absent themselves as they do not want the number of unsuccessful attempts to increase.
The city police had issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr PC within 200 metres radius around the examination centres, besides ordering all photocopy shops in the vicinity of the examination centres to remain closed.
I had time to come home after the first session, have lunch and refresh myself, before returning for the second session
