No Additional Weightage to General Studies in UPSC CS Exam

Mr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel clarified that the government does not have any plans to give additional weightage to General Studies in the Civil Services exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission.

Informing the Lok Sabha on the issue, Mr. Jitendra pointed that the government had made the changes in Civil Services (Prelims) exam in 2011 followed by Civils (Mains) exam in 2013. As per the changes, there are four papers for General Studies that carry 250 marks each.

Therefore, General Studies carries 1,000 marks out of 1,750 in the written examination. Since 2015, the candidates who secure 33 percent marks in General Studies Paper – II of Civils Preliminary examination are being declared as qualified.

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Mr. Jitendra finally clarified that the government is not considering any additional weightage for General Studies in Civils Prelims and Mains examination.

In the year 2015, Union Public Service Commission appointed Mr. Baswan, former HRD Minister and retired IAS Officer as the Chairman of a committee, which is popularly known as Baswan Committee.

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The committee was constituted to review the pattern of Civil Services examination. The committee reviewed the exam pattern for more than one year and proposed some changes. The committee submitted its report on August 9, 2016. However, the recommendations made by the committee are under the consideration and review of Union Public Service Commission.

It has been learnt that the Baswan Committee had recommended the reduction of upper age limit for Civil Services examination. The official notification on approved recommendations will be out soon.