Mains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread
Now that 1 week is over, it is time to shift focus to Mains. With barely 103 days left there is no time to waste.
@DKTLofty ambitions brother. But I hope it all turns out as you have prophesized. If it indeed happens, I think you should be ready with a more detailed post for forum blog.
@foxmulderIs there a thread here in which serious interview prep discussion is happening?
Slightly unreal to mains, but what are your thoughts guys on the showcause notice served to Kannan Gopinathan? Doesn't it seem all too convenient that someone who raised dissent is now being hounded. This has been a pattern with this leadership at the helm. Nothing happened to Mr Asthana and almost the entire investigating team was either removed or suspended. Ashok Lavasa is also a case in point. The IRS lady officer also came out with startling revelation of top officials genuflecting to political leadership. My question then is, what do you guys feel about your prospects when you read such news pieces. If one clears this exam, how do you view these challenges (which are becoming more real with each coming day). Just something that was perturbing me. Ignore if you think it is irrelevant.
@paranthapijja*unrelated to mains
@paranthapijjaI think everyone in this service is or becomes a conformist. That doesn't mean they become corrupt, but only that they find ways to achieve what they want-- be it work, wealth, satisfaction or dissent. Even dissent is as per one's own convenience. A lot many honest officers do work and are hounded, like the examples that you have given. All I take solace is in the fact that people who want to work true to their duties are still in large numbers and are working tirelessly. Regarding what is to be the future prospects, changes would be far and few. Similar surroundings beckon all of us. Definitely resolve will be tested whether you give in or keep ploughing. It is also a matter of priorities, when you want to honestly work, I don't think you could be stopped.
@CaesarApparently the range seems vast....ppl marking as low as 3/10 to as high as 8/10
@vvvikas0078212I think excellent would be given more than 50%. Test series mostly limit themselves to 50%. It would be around 60-70% IMO.
@Shubzyear to year variations are there,
2017 gs3 was checked with 70 60 50 40 percent contunuum,
70 percent for excellent, 60 for good, 50 for relevant, 40 for average
in paper gs1 and 2, seems 65 55 45 35 percent was awaded.
gs 4 was strict.
2018 me
gs paper 1 me 55 45 40 35 % (excellent, good, relevant and average)
gs paper 2 and 3 ,60 50 45 35 % (excellent, good, relevant and average)
gs paper 4 was 1 grade liberal than 2017,
in short marking depends upon -
- questions asked( specific or general - more number of specific questions reduces average score of that paper across the board)
- standards set for evaluator
- marking pattern
- which paper gets liberal scoring (consider if someone has done good in gs paper 3, liberal checking will be bonanza for him or her, consider if someone has messed up gs 2 and checking is strict there, it will be disaster for him ir her).
comclusion - not messing up tough papers (for marking)
and doing good where paper was easy and marking scheme is good will lead to great scores overall
@sat_009below average, namesake or wrong answers wont fetch more than 10 or 15 percent imo
@utkarsh_mishrai think he is right in relation to marking in csm 2018
@paranthapijjasaid inMains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread:
Slightly unreal to mains, but what are your thoughts guys on the showcause notice served to Kannan Gopinathan? Doesn't it seem all too convenient that someone who raised dissent is now being hounded. This has been a pattern with this leadership at the helm. Nothing happened to Mr Asthana and almost the entire investigating team was either removed or suspended. Ashok Lavasa is also a case in point. The IRS lady officer also came out with startling revelation of top officials genuflecting to political leadership. My question then is, what do you guys feel about your prospects when you read such news pieces. If one clears this exam, how do you view these challenges (which are becoming more real with each coming day). Just something that was perturbing me. Ignore if you think it is irrelevant.
Correct. Another issue is the hounding of officers for policy issues(ex-Addl Secy level officer in FinMin recently). And it does have a political angle to it. Fall in line and you would be rewarded, else be ready to face the consequences.
@sat_009i dont think so..because then even for 20 excellent answers, which we all know know one can write, the highest would be 125. People might at best write 10-12 excellent answers, others are good or average. In that case scores in 120s even in 2018 were not possible.
@foxmuldersaid inMains 2019 Preparation and Discussion Thread:
@paranthapijjaI think everyone in this service is or becomes a conformist. That doesn't mean they become corrupt, but only that they find ways to achieve what they want-- be it work, wealth, satisfaction or dissent. Even dissent is as per one's own convenience. A lot many honest officers do work and are hounded, like the examples that you have given. All I take solace is in the fact that people who want to work true to their duties are still in large numbers and are working tirelessly. Regarding what is to be the future prospects, changes would be far and few. Similar surroundings beckon all of us. Definitely resolve will be tested whether you give in or keep ploughing. It is also a matter of priorities, when you want to honestly work, I don't think you could be stopped.
You could be honest, hardworking and efficient but you would have to turn a blind eye to many wrongs. I guess it all depends on an individual. The officers who get transferred a lot, atleast they are happy of having a clear conscience. Else be in a powerful position by towing down to a few demands.
@CaesarIn a way, everyone lives in the same muddle. To have a clear conscience is truly a wonderful thing. If you still turn a blind eye to wrongs just to keep your conscience clear, doesn't really serve the purpose does it?
@utkarsh_mishrasee my take on deatiled marking scheme sabke apne experience hai bhai
@utkarsh_mishraExcellent answers can certainly fetch more than 50%
@paranthapijjaits true and as an admin we all have to confront such trends, with time and service experience we may be able to find some ways in real time scenario,
staying true to your duties, follwing the legal rational, staying within ambit of constitutional precepts may guide us but at the same time we should show strength and coruage to stand for right things
@utkarsh_mishraHow do u award ur own answer as excellent. It is very hard to make a neutral assessment of your own answers as we tend to see our own efforts positively. So it becomes hard to arrive at a final score projection.
@utkarsh_mishrano one can write all answers as excellent, exceptional answers in last two years for me were 3 to 4 only,
8 to 9 good or relevant, rest average,
this time i was able to increase count in both but, certainly my exceptional, excellent and good togethet have not crossed 15 questions in amy paper, 5 to 6 answers are average no doubt about that in any paper, even toppers have not been able to do all 20 questions as great
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