Streamlining the UPSC CSE Mains: A Case for Simplification

 The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most rigorous competitive exams in the world, designed to select India’s top civil servants. While its comprehensive nature ensures a thorough evaluation, the Mains stage, with nine papers spread over five days, is often criticized for being overly exhaustive. The current structure—spanning English and Hindi language papers, an essay paper, four General Studies (GS) papers, and two optional subject papers—places immense physical and mental strain on aspirants. For working professionals, the scheduling on Fridays adds further challenges. This article argues for a streamlined UPSC Mains process, questioning the necessity of certain papers and proposing practical solutions to reduce the load on aspirants without compromising the exam’s integrity.

The Current UPSC Mains Structure: A Grueling Marathon

The UPSC Mains consists of nine papers conducted over five days, typically structured as follows:

• Friday: Qualifying language papers (English and Hindi, 3 hours each, 9 AM–12 PM and 2:30 PM–5:30 PM).
• Saturday: Essay paper (3 hours, 9 AM–12 PM).
• Sunday: No exams.
• Next Friday: GS Paper 1 (morning) and GS Paper 2 (afternoon, 3 hours each).
• Saturday: GS Paper 3 (morning) and GS Paper 4 (afternoon, 3 hours each).
• Sunday: Optional Subject Paper 1 (morning) and Optional Subject Paper 2 (afternoon, 3 hours each).

Each paper demands intense preparation, with aspirants juggling vast syllabi across history, geography, polity, ethics, and their chosen optional subject. The process tests not just knowledge but also stamina, time management, and mental resilience. For working professionals, taking leave for two consecutive Fridays is often impractical, adding to the strain. This raises a critical question: does this exhaustive structure truly measure the qualities needed to be an effective civil servant?

The Problem: Does More Mean Better?

The Mains process is designed to assess a candidate’s depth of knowledge, analytical skills, and ability to articulate ideas. However, the sheer volume of papers and their scheduling raises concerns:

1. Redundancy in Evaluation: The optional papers (worth 500 marks) test specialized knowledge in subjects like anthropology, sociology, or engineering. While these allow candidates to showcase expertise, their relevance to administrative roles is questionable. Civil servants need broad, practical knowledge rather than niche academic proficiency. Similarly, the essay paper (250 marks) evaluates writing skills, but these are already tested in GS papers, which require descriptive answers.
2. Physical and Mental Toll: Nine papers over five days, each lasting three hours, is a test of endurance as much as intellect. This format disadvantages candidates who may excel in knowledge but struggle with fatigue or time constraints.
3. Scheduling Challenges: Conducting exams on Fridays assumes aspirants have flexible schedules. For working professionals, this means taking leave or managing work alongside preparation, which is often infeasible.
4. Questionable Correlation with Job Performance: The ability to write multiple 3-hour papers may not directly correlate with the skills needed for civil service, such as decision-making, leadership, or practical problem-solving. The process prioritizes academic rigor over real-world applicability.

A Case for Simplification

To make the UPSC Mains more efficient and equitable, the following reforms could reduce the load on aspirants while maintaining the exam’s rigor:

1. Merge Language Papers: The English and Hindi papers are qualifying in nature (requiring a minimum 25% to pass) and do not contribute to the final score. These could be combined into a single 3-hour paper testing proficiency in both languages, saving an entire day. Alternatively, language proficiency could be assessed during the Preliminary stage, freeing up the Mains schedule.
2. Reevaluate the Essay Paper: The essay paper tests clarity of thought and expression, but these skills are already evaluated in the GS papers, which require structured, analytical answers. The essay paper could be integrated into GS Paper 4 (Ethics), where candidates already write descriptive answers on case studies and ethical dilemmas. This would reduce the number of papers without compromising the evaluation of writing skills.
3. Rethink Optional Papers: Optional papers allow candidates to leverage their academic strengths, but their relevance to administrative roles is debatable. One solution is to replace the two optional papers (500 marks) with a single interdisciplinary paper (250 marks) testing applied knowledge relevant to governance, such as public administration, policy analysis, or current affairs. This would reduce the syllabus burden and align the exam more closely with the demands of civil service.
4. Condense the Schedule: The current five-day schedule, spread over two weeks with a gap in between, is inefficient. By merging language papers and eliminating or integrating the essay paper, the Mains could be conducted over three consecutive days (e.g., Saturday to Monday), with two papers per day:
   • Day 1: Combined Language Paper (morning), GS Paper 1 (afternoon).
   • Day 2: GS Paper 2 (morning), GS Paper 3 (afternoon).
   • Day 3: GS Paper 4 (morning), Applied Governance Paper (afternoon, replacing optional papers).
   This schedule avoids Fridays, making it more accessible for working professionals, and reduces the overall duration of the exam.
5. Leverage Technology for Flexibility: For candidates unable to attend in-person exams due to work or other commitments, UPSC could explore computer-based testing with secure proctoring. This would allow greater flexibility in scheduling, enabling aspirants to take exams at designated centers over a wider time window.

Benefits of a Streamlined Process

These changes would offer several advantages:

• Reduced Strain: Fewer papers and a shorter schedule would alleviate physical and mental exhaustion, allowing candidates to perform at their best.
• Fairness for Working Professionals: A weekend-based schedule and fewer exam days would make the process more inclusive for those balancing jobs and preparation.
• Focus on Relevant Skills: Replacing optional papers with an applied governance paper would better assess the practical knowledge and decision-making skills needed for civil service.
• Maintained Rigor: Consolidating papers and integrating assessments (e.g., essay into GS4) ensures the exam remains comprehensive without unnecessary redundancy.

Addressing Counterarguments

Critics may argue that reducing the number of papers could compromise the exam’s ability to test a candidate’s depth and versatility. However, the proposed changes maintain a robust evaluation framework by focusing on core competencies—general knowledge, analytical skills, and governance aptitude—while eliminating redundant or less relevant components. Others might claim that optional papers allow candidates to showcase their strengths, but a single applied governance paper could achieve the same by allowing candidates to draw on their diverse educational backgrounds in a context relevant to civil service.

Conclusion

The UPSC CSE Mains is a formidable challenge, but its current structure is unnecessarily grueling and not fully aligned with the demands of modern civil service. By merging language papers, integrating the essay component into GS4, replacing optional papers with an applied governance paper, and condensing the schedule to three consecutive days, the UPSC can create a more efficient, equitable, and relevant examination process. These reforms would reduce the burden on aspirants, particularly working professionals, while ensuring that the selected candidates possess the skills needed to serve the nation effectively. It’s time for the UPSC to evolve, making the path to civil service rigorous but not overwhelming.