BANGALORE: The state government has proposed major changes to the exam pattern it employs to hire top bureaucrats. The proposals, issued in a draft notification, will come into effect once they are approved. Objections can be filed within 15 days.
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is preparing to fill 452 Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) posts in Group A and B, which refer to the most powerful posts in the state administration.
Surprisingly, the government has made no changes to the marks given during oral interviews, despite their role in the scandal over the selection of the 2011 batch. Evaluators allegedly used the discretion allowed to them to mark up candidates they favoured in the interview and personality test. The government has scrapped the 2011 selection list, and some candidates have appealed against this.
The new pattern gives more importance to general studies, and lowers the importance of optional subjects. The draft changes come in the wake of the government’s assurance to implement the recommendations of the Hota Committee to bring about greater transparency and curb irregularities in selecton.
The government, however, has done nothing to make the interviews and personality tests more transparent. The maximum marks for the interviews and personality tests remains 200. KPSC calls candidates for personality tests three times in the A and B categories.
Meanwhile, optional subjects which used to carry 1,200 marks, now carry just 500.
The new pattern has shifted the focus away from optionals, introducing four general studies papers (250 marks each), as against two carrying 600 marks earlier. General studies now carry 1,000 marks.
Candidates also have to write an essay of 250 marks. KPSC had no essay paper earlier. The draft notification says candidates now need to opt for one optional subject and write two papers for 250 marks each. Earlier, they had to take two optional subjects.
The total marks for the written examination (seven papers) will now be 1,750.