Tests of aptitude and attitude

July 31, 2014 01:29 am | Updated November 16, 2021 06:56 pm IST

For the second successive year, a large number of civil services aspirants are >up in arms against the Civil Service Aptitude Test introduced by the Union Public Service Commission in the preliminary stage of the selection process. CSAT seeks to test a range of abilities and skills — including in terms of comprehension, interpersonal-communication, logical reasoning, decision-making and problem-solving and English language — all at Class X level proficiency. To argue that a screening test that involves questions from that level gives an unfair advantage to any one section appears surprising. It is also being argued that the pattern of testing puts those with a Hindi language background in a position of disadvantage — when in fact candidates are at liberty to take the test in either English or Hindi. In truth, when Hindi is allowed as a medium for the main examination, regional languages such as Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati are what face a disadvantage, because unless one has done the first degree and has written an examination in the language concerned, one cannot take the main examination in that language. Another argument is that CSAT favours students from science, management and engineering backgrounds to the detriment of those from the humanities, given the stress on logical reasoning skills. This does not stand to reason either. Any debate that puts forth language bias arguments and issues of equity and egalitarianism to downplay the need for a minimum level of basic skills, cannot but be flawed. Indisputably, administrators have to be able to fulfil requirements that make for a logical approach to day-to-day issues. By coming out on to the streets, are the protesters suggesting that they lack these essential life-skills, rather than show a willingness to take any test as a challenge of prowess and attitude?

The preliminary examination for 2014 is scheduled for August 24. Scrapping the test at this stage will prove disruptive for a substantial section of aspirants who have prepared for the annual cycle of testing in the current pattern, introduced in 2011. Introducing a new pattern without giving them a reasonable length of time to adjust to changes, will violate the principles of natural justice. However, complaints that the translation from English into Hindi of questions is done using a software in an automated process, which leaves ambiguities, need to be addressed immediately. A government-appointed committee that is looking into the demands for changes, should first be allowed to complete its task, and any reforms factored in over time. The UPSC needs to be seen as a fair arbiter that offers a >level playing field to candidates across the country.

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