By Melarbor L Thabah
When I was in Delhi from 2017-18 undergoing coaching for the Civil Services Exams of the UPSC, I noticed the negativity surrounding the existence of elective subjects constituting two papers. It is only today that I had decided to make this cogent suggestion that I had in mind 8 years ago.
The Elective subject comprising of two papers must be immediately and absolutely revoked based of two (2) reasons:
(1). The question of preference to particular subjects arises constituting favouritism.
(2). Most importantly, the humongous amount of tuition fees paid in lakhs for which Civil Services Exam (CSE) Coaching institutes charge the students to enable the owners of those Coaching Institutes to drive Audis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes, BMWs, Jaguars which I had seen with my very eyes and to live ostentatiously lavish lives of grandeur sapping the finances of especially poor and middle-income families from an economic perspective whose parents simply yearned to provide the best for their smart children to compete in this most prestigious exam for which they are even taking loans towards this endeavour.
Solution: The Elective Subject comprising of two elective papers which the students have to compete must be converted to General Studies Paper 5 and General Studies Paper 6 where some subjects from General Studies Paper 1 to General Studies Paper 4 will be inserted into these two new General Papers since there are certain General Studies Papers from 1 to 4 which have many subjects in one paper resulting in clogging up subjects in one paper thus, lessening the paper load. The “Qualifying English Paper” can either be wholly converted as General Studies Paper 5 or General Studies Paper 6 or as one of the subjects in either of these two papers. Further, subjects taken in bits from the now revoked list of elective subjects which are generalized and comprehensible for students from all educational backgrounds can be inserted in either or both these two new general papers. Finally, a novel subject which involves intellectual thinking based on ground realities and pragmatism like in dealing with bandhs, hartals, strikes processions, negotiations with groups, waste, office and public management, counselling, mental stress and other related issues should those CSE candidates become CSE passed officers may be inserted in either General Studies Paper 5 or General Studies Paper 6. There is no doubt that the UPSC must convert the qualifying paper as General Studies Paper 5 or General Studies Paper 6 which will still be tough to pass none the less but most definitely revoke the economically draining Elective Paper.
Note: It is my fervent opinion that General Studies Paper 6 should no longer exist since naysayers will say that the revocation of the two elective papers results in the emergence of the two more general studies papers and the tuition fees for the two elective papers will now be transferred to these two new general papers though the amount may be slightly less when compared to the two new general studies papers. Hence, by having only one General Paper negates this argument. This General Studies Paper 5 must comprise of the qualifying English paper, few generalized – comprehensible topics taken from the elective papers such as public cum office cum waste management, few novel pragmatic topics like counselling, mental stress, strikes, negotiations and one or two subjects taken from General Studies Paper 1 – 4 which have been clogged with many subjects to decongest the subjects. To further hammer my point home, Paper 1 in Indian Forest Service Mains exams is English which adds to my case that the qualifying paper “English” must be incorporated as General Studies Paper 5 along with those aforementioned subject recommendations.
Stupendous Noble Example: Commendations to the Meghalaya government which heeded to the advice of the IAS officers who suggested and were able to implement this change of revoking the elective subjects comprising two papers with the consent of the State Cabinet. I presumed that they realize these two reasons of favouritism and economic hardship faced by students in undergoing another separate coaching payment for the elective subjects which the UPSC aspired CSE students have to endure. I congratulate the IAS brains who came up with this proposal in Meghalaya. Meghalaya is the benchmark for the entire country to follow ranging from all the 29 State Public Service Commissions to the Union Public Service Commission. The Ministry of Home Affairs must “Notify” the Union Public Service Commission and all State Public Service Commissions; the revocation of all elective subjects, bar none; and conversion of the list of elective subjects comprising of two papers in the Mains exam either as General Studies Paper 5 only or both General Studies Paper 5 or General Studies Paper 6 which will now include the qualifying paper as a general subject under General Studies Paper 5 with existing and novel subjects to be inserted into these papers.
The Indian Forest Service (IFoS): In 2017-18, I learned from my competitors who are vying for the IFoS the following, that the qualifying marks for the CSE Prelims is higher for the IFoS than the other services and that the exam is held separately from the other exams of other CSE posts besides other peculiar requirements. When I asked them why the CSE Prelims marks qualification are higher for the IFoS when compared with other services posts of the CSE, none of them can give a valid logical answer. My suggestion is that the CSE Prelims qualifying marks for the IFoS must henceforth be the same like all the other services of the CSE. No special treatment must be assigned because if the same scenario persists, then the IFoS passed candidates will have a superior mentality which they might say to other services candidates in order to belittle them or might not say but know it to themselves than those who passed the CSE Prelims for the other services. Further, the Cabinet Secretary is the greatest amongst all the Services and sits in all Cabinet meetings and not the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests with all due respect to him, which goes to emphasize my point that the CSE Prelims marks qualification for Paper 1 and Paper 2 should be the same for IFoS as it is with the other services of the CSE. In a nation where the word superiority is extremely sensitive and highly volatile, these sensitivities must be acknowledged, noted but above all reformed through action by making the same parity of CSE Preliminary marks qualification for all the services post of the CSE. Also, the mains exams for IFoS must also be held together at the same time and date but in a separate venue allotted for only IFoS candidates as the other CSE Mains and the same goes for Indian Engineering Service (IES) exams with reference to date and time. The reason for a separate venue is because IES and IFoS mains papers are different from those of the other services in CSE Mains.
By undertaking this important reform in 2026, the Home Ministry has ensured equal participation and competition of families arising from innumerable economic backgrounds, ensured justice and equality as enshrined in our beloved constitution and making sure that the Civil Services Exams is not a playground for the affluent but for the youths emanating from families belonging to all walks of life. In 2011, 2013 and 2015 there were reforms which are genuinely praise worthy. Reforms are never meant to convolute and complexify the process but rather to declutter and demystify the process. On this note, I am therefore praying for this extremely important reform to be initiated by the officials of the Home Ministry and approved by the Union Cabinet in the interest of the public for which I will remain eternally grateful for this pro youth reformation. For this path breaking reformative act, I will remain in gratitude to the Union Home Minister and the Home Ministry.
