Ex-Secretaries Call for CSE Reforms to Focus on Skills, Not Memorisation
Former health secretary Shailaja Chandra and ex-Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant have called for reforms in India's Civil Services Examination (CSE), administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). They argue that the exam's current structure favors memorization over critical skills needed for effective governance.
Chandra suggests that reforms like the introduction of the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in 2011 and reduction of optional papers in 2013 have shifted the emphasis to short-answer responses. She believes this benefits coaching institutes and candidates who can afford prolonged preparation, rather than developing skills for governance. Kant advocates for incorporating modern technology into the CSE to prepare officers for a rapidly changing world.
Chandra proposes increasing the weight of the interview, introducing psychometric profiling, and minimizing bias in assessing communication, reasoning, and personality. She calls for testing qualities that AI cannot replicate, such as holistic thinking, judgement, prudence, moral courage, and the ability to translate political priorities into actionable, legally sound measures. She concludes that the UPSC should stop testing what machines can do and start testing what only human character can deliver.
Critics argue that the CSE increasingly rewards memorization over analytical thinking, judgement, and leadership skills. With the current design of the CSE being outdated, as artificial intelligence can now provide unlimited information on every subject, the UPSC is urged to adapt and focus on assessing human qualities that are essential for effective governance in the 21st century.
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