Changes in UPSC Civil Services Curriculum, Chances of Age Limit to get Lowered

The government of India is all set to consider a report by the Baswan Committee to make some key changes in the Civil Services examination pattern. Sources from the committee revealed that there are high chances for the upper age limit which is 32 years to get reduced. Union Public Service Commission is presently monitoring the new proposal. This was proposed to the government by the committee in August last year. It was then received along with recommendations by the Union Public Service Commission in March this year.

The Proposed changes in the Civil Services Examination:

• Age Limit: The committee has proposed to make a reduction in the upper age limit of 32 years to appear for the Civil Services exam.
• Optional Paper: Removing the optional paper is being considered as a major reform.

UPSC may slash the optional paper:

Candidates consider optional papers as the major scoring papers as they have the option to choose from their preferred subjects. The optional papers also have a certain formula to surge marks to compensate for non-scoring subjects due to which it makes India’s one of the toughest exam unfair.

As all the optional papers have their own scoring standards, scoring in some subjects might be tougher than other subjects. Removing the optional paper from the mains is being considered as an ultimate game changer and is readily being received by the aspirants all over the nation.

Consideration of reducing the upper age limit for Civil Services exam:

An aspirant can only apply for IAS/Civil Services exam if they are within the age limit. For a long time, the age factor at the UPSC has been a factor of deliberation. Primarily for many years the upper age limit for the exam was 30 years for the general category while for OBC and SC/ST candidates it was 33 and 35 respectively. Then in 2014, it was increased to 32 for General Category, 35 for OBC and 37 for SC/ST. Reduction in the upper age limit of candidates is on cards.

Now the question arises, when can this change be expected in IAS/CSAT?

The report from the Baswan Committee along with UPSC’s recommendation was received on 20^th March 2017. According to the sources from the committee, the government will implement this change only after extending a sufficient window to the prevailing aspirants. New changes in the pattern can come into effect anytime without any advance notice.

UPSC conducts Civil Services exam every year to hand pick best officers into various government services including Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service(IFS), Indian Administrative Services(IAS).

The following examinations are held primarily in three stages:

• Preliminary Round
• Mains
• Personal Interview