C-SAT IN CIVIL SERVICES EXAM
From 2011 onwards the pattern of civil services prelims have changed a lot and a different examination pattern is to be followed. The government has approved a proposal for an aptitude test to replace the existing optional subject paper of the preliminary exam.
According to the earlier preliminary exam format, candidates have to answer a general studies paper comprising of 150 questions and an optional paper which the candidate chooses from the 23 subjects offered by UPSC.
New format introduced from 2011 onwards
With the new format, candidates answer two objective type papers which are the general studies paper and the General Aptitude Paper. Consequently, the Civil Services preliminary examination will be referred to as Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). There are no changes planned for the format of the main examination and interview.
Both the papers of the CSAT will carry equal marks and is easy and helpful for graduates of all fields and life. It is completely transparent in terms of marks and has no disparity, meaning an equal game to all. With everyone preparing in a similar pattern, all students have equal opportunity in the exam.
Thus the scaling process which was a much discussed part has taken away and every student is on level playing from now onwards.
CSAT 2011 Syllabus
The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) 2011 would consists of Paper I and Paper II.
Paper 1
TYPE: MCQ
Max. Mark: 200
Duration: 2 Hours
Syllabus
· Current events of national and international importance
· History of India and Indian national movement
· Indian and World Geography- physical, social, economic geography of India and the world
· Indian Polity and governance – constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc.
· Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc.
· General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change-that donot require subject specialization
· General science.
Paper 2
Pattern : Multiple Choice Questions
Total Marks : 200
Duration : 2 Hours
Syllabus
· Comprehension
· Interpersonal skills including communication skills
· Logical reasoning and analytical ability
· Decision making and problem solving
· General mental ability
· Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. –Class X level)
· English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.
The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
The prospective candidates are advised to note that no changes are being introduce at this stage in the Civil Services (Main) Examination and Personality Test in the scheme of Civil Services Examination (CSE).
Benefit of an aptitude test
The benefit of introducing aptitude tests in the civil exam is that it assesses your logical reasoning and thinking performance. It is based on multiple choice questions answered in exam conditions.
No subject influences, or can have an effect on an aptitude test. People, who have a sense of moral and ethical values, are logical in their thinking and who take sensible decisions will find the CSAT to be comparatively easy.
With the implementation of the CSAT, it is possible to choose better and more competent civil servants who have the right aptitude. It will also bring the use of scaling systems to an end. Civil servants will thus be chosen based on their ability of handling the tough decision making life of civil servants and not based on their expertise on a single subject.
