Prelims -
1. Transparency - why does this examination want to mess with an aspirant's head so bad? Releasing prelims marks once mains is conducted would be a good start. Why such secrecy and mythical imagery?
2. Vagueness - why is there so much vagueness when it comes to the prelims syllabus? I get the point of prelims as an exercise - totally fine by me - but why include vagueness to the mental trauma of an aspirant? One man's Prelims 365 is another's monthly compilation notes.
3. Inclusion - let both papers count. The ratio can be skewed, granted, but let folks who are good in English + Reasoning/Maths have a chance. If your objective is to create a low fruit cut off in CSAT with an obscenely difficult paper, what exactly is your motive? To remove candidates (some of who might be deserving) or to test talent?
4. Experience - At least a year of professional work experience be made an essential eligibility to fill up the form. This is pertinent from many aspects.
Mains -
1. Optional - As much as I would like to disagree, but I strenuously feel that Optionals should go. Today, it is Anthropology. Tomorrow, it will be Maithili Literature. The cycle will go on and on and folks will diminish their original source of knowledge in the zeal of finding an optional that is 'safe'. Super, super unfair to others who have a strong base in a particular subject - such as Pub Ad. Let the concept of 'butchering' and 'scaling' evaporate as a whole.
2. Time - I feel Mains needs patience and composure. Two papers a day is something I feel should be done away with. Hell, even life defining exams such as our boards had a paper a day.
3. Infrastructure - Candidates prefer writing mains from Delhi because of schools that have 'better' benches. This needs to stop. Why can't I write Mains from the comfort of my hometown of Kohima (for example) and be assured that it will have the same level of rigid & comfortable benches and other amenities as a candidate who is writing his Mains from Dholpur House annexe?
4. Relief - Upload answer sheets. If not for public viewing, then at least for the candidate. How do you expect someone to figure out their mistakes if they don't know what they are in the first place?
Interview -
1. Opportunity - For the love of mankind, please encourage PSUs + PSCs + other corporations to hire folks who have appeared for the interview but not made it to the final list. Give them some latitude or a pedestal. They have worked their tails off for something others wouldn't even think to.
2. Recording - This is something I feel every UPSC interview should have. Video recording. If not for anyone, but to be shown to the candidate every time he messes up in his professional career. Also, serves as a legible proof of record of a candidate's personality test, the questions of which can be analyzed later vis-a-vis other candidates.
3. Selection - Once selected, let the commission debar candidates from writing the exam further for the next one year or two. Controversial, I agree. But this is extremely unfair towards that one guy in the reserve list who would otherwise have a rank because this Jack decided that IIS isn't his cup of tea.
Peace.
