For Civil Services aspirants, it was time to prove their mettle after months of hard toil, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducting the Civil Services prelims (CSAT or Civil Service Aptitude Test) examination 2017 on Sunday.
The examination, comprising two objective type papers of maximum 400 marks, was held in two phases at 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. Approximately 12 lakh candidates had registered for the examination held at centres across India.
Candidates’ response after the exam was not too positive, with the general consensus being that the difficulty level was significantly higher compared to the previous year’s paper. “Paper 1, in particular, was very difficult for me, although I had worked really hard,” a candidate told
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Paper 1 (General Studies) comprises questions from topics including current affairs, Indian history, geography, Indian polity and governance, economic and social development, and issues on ecology, while paper 2 (aptitude skills) tests communication and comprehension skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability.
“While paper 1 is typically heavy on current affairs, this year it tested the candidates’ ability to analyse issues, and not just their factual knowledge,” according to the director of a private Civil Services coaching centre in the city. “The questions required a strong foundation in concepts, especially in topics such as Indian polity.”
The higher difficulty level, however, implies lower cut-off levels for clearing the prelims. Results are expected to be announced in August/September.
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Those who clear the prelims will appear for the Civil Services Mains examination, to be held over five days from October 28.