Students hail relaxation in Civils

• Applicable for next CSAT prelim in August
• Number of candidates will increase
• Students have been demanding it in view of new syllabi

Hyderabad: By raising the number of attempts for the civil services examination to all the category students, the Union Government, has acceded to a long pending demand of number of students across the country.

The decision of two additional attempts would be applicable for the next preliminary exam (CSAT), scheduled to be held on August 24, 2014. According to the decision which was uploaded on the website of Union Ministry of Personnel and Training, candidates who have exhausted their attempts will be allowed to appear for two more attempts. This means that candidates belonging to the general category will be allowed to take the examination till the age of 32, OBCs 35 and SC and STs 37 years.

Hundreds of aspirants have resorted to several agitations and organised many a dharna in New Delhi, outside Parliament, UPSC office and also at many cities demanding increase in attempts due to change in the pattern. In fact, they started a series of agitations when the process of change of pattern was thought of six years ago. Since it requires candidates to accustom to the new mode which is being introduced after 30 years, it should be increased, they have demanded.

It might be recalled that the pattern of the Civil Services Mains was changed last year with more compulsory papers and updated contemporary syllabi. Ever since the change was effected, senior aspirants have intensified their battle demanding that they should be given a chance to prove their mettle in the new pattern.

“With an eye on the General Elections, the central government has conceded the demand by allowing two more attempts. No doubt, this is an attempt to garner the votes of youth, who have become an influential segment of voters now,” KK Vamana Murthy, a retired lecturer at a civils coaching institute in Hyderabad remarked.

“Whenever there has been a major change in the exam pattern, the government has allowed an increase in the age limit and the number of attempts. This was done earlier in the late 1970s and also after the implementation of the Mandal Commission Recommendations. The number of candidates appearing at the preliminary examination will increase significantly. This will lead to increase in competition both qualitatively and quantitatively,” Gopala Krishna, Director of Brain Tree Academy, felt.

To an extent, the age limit comes nearer to the Group I exam age limit of Andhra Pradesh.

Technically, the increase is against the recommendations of all the committees on civil services. All the panels have suggested reduction and not enhancement of age limit.

Even the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) has suggested that the age limit should be 26 and not beyond that.

While Rajiv Gandhi reduced it from 28 to 26 years, VP Singh made it again 28. Vajpayee during his tenure increased it to 30. Now it is 32 for general students.