UPPSC Scraps CSAT Exam Pattern From Prelims Merit

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has scrapped the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern. The CSAT paper will be qualifying in nature, which means the aspirants would need only 33% to qualify for the paper.

According to reports, the commission has made General Studies-II paper of 'Combined State Upper Subordinate Services Examination (Preliminary)' or PCS (Prelims) exams qualifying in nature and it will not be included in PCS.

The change will be effective from 2016 and the candidates would not be required to prepare separately for PSC and Civil Services. Now the UPPSC examination would be similar to that of Civil Services exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The commission had switched to C-SAT paper in 2012 when UPSC made a similar change. Although UPSC switched back to the older pattern after mass protest by civil services aspirants.

The UPPSC had been sending proposals regarding the scrapping of CSAT to state government for past two years on demands of aspirants across the state. However, the students' demand for two more additional chances to clear the examination has not been accepted.