NEW DELHI: Ira Singhal, the 2014 Civil Service Examinations (CSE) topper, scored 1,082 marks out of a total 2,025 marks (53.43 per cent), while the last recommended candidate in the list scored 713 marks (35.20 per cent) revealing the tough question and tougher evaluation system of the civil services mains exams.
The marksheets of the civil services candidates, made public by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), interestingly show a rise in scores by the all-India toppers from 2013.
Gaurav Agrawal, topper of 2013, had scored only 975 marks (48.15 per cent) out of 2,025 marks. Munish Sharma, the second rank-holder last year, had scored only 936. Last year’s third rank-holder Rachit Raj had scored 934 marks. Compared to 2013, Renu Raj, the all-India second rank-holder in 2014, scored 1,056 marks (50.61 per cent) and Nidhi Gupta, who got the third rank, scored 1,025 (50.61 per cent).
An analysis of the previous cut-off scores for the final rank clearly indicates stricter evaluations for the country’s future bureaucrats.
Ira Singhal, a physically handicapped Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from Delhi, got 920 in the written exam and 162 in the interview - also known as the personality test. Renu Raj, a native of Changanassery in Kottayam district, scored 858 in the written exam and 198 in the interview. Nidhi Gupta scored 846 in the written exam and 179 in the interview. Vandana Rao, ranked fourth, got 832 in the written exam and 187 in the interview.