Addressing Concerns in Civil Service Recruitment

Concerns in Civil Service Recruitment

The parliamentary panel has raised significant concerns regarding the recruitment processes for civil services in India. The primary issue highlighted is the growing number of engineers being selected, which potentially leads to the loss of qualified professionals, especially in specialized fields such as medicine and engineering.

Prevalence of Technical and Medical Backgrounds

Recent statistics indicate that over 70% of candidates selected through the UPSC Civil Services Exam possess either technical or medical backgrounds. This trend has sparked discussions about the implications for civil service effectiveness and diversity.

Recommendations from the Panel

To address these concerns, the panel has suggested a thorough reevaluation of the current recruitment procedures. This includes analyzing the impact of educational backgrounds on the effectiveness of civil servants.

Changes in Candidate Backgrounds

Examining the trends over the years, the percentage of engineering candidates has risen from 46% in 2011 to 65% in 2020. In contrast, the representation of medical candidates has plummeted from 14% to a mere 4%. This shift raises questions about the balance of expertise within the civil services.

Proposed Improvements in the Recruitment Process

The committee has recommended several improvements, including reducing the duration of the recruitment test to six months and adopting computer-based examinations. These changes aim to streamline the process and make it more efficient.

Focus on Civil Servant Training

In addition to recruitment reforms, the panel emphasized the importance of training for civil servants. They highlighted the necessity for candidates to develop a human touch, exhibit empathy, and enhance their ability to manage law and order situations, given their critical role as intermediaries between the government and the public.

UPSC Practice MCQs

Question 1: What is the main concern raised by the parliamentary panel about civil service recruitment?
A) High number of engineers selected as civil servants
B) Lack of technical expertise in civil services
C) Decrease in the number of medical candidates
D) Inefficient recruitment process
Correct Answer: A

Question 2: What percentage of candidates selected in recent years have technical or medical backgrounds?
A) 40%
B) 50%
C) 70%
D) 90%
Correct Answer: C

Question 3: What did the panel recommend to address the concern about engineers dominating civil service selections?
A) Increase the number of medical candidates
B) Revamp the UPSC exam format
C) Reevaluate the recruitment procedures
D) Lower the educational eligibility criteria
Correct Answer: C

Question 4: How has the educational background of selected candidates changed over the years?
A) Engineering candidates increased from 14% to 65%
B) Medical candidates increased from 4% to 65%
C) Engineering candidates increased from 46% to 65%
D) Medical candidates decreased from 14% to 4%
Correct Answer: C

Question 5: What are the suggested improvements in the recruitment process?
A) Increase the test duration
B) Adopt paper-based examinations
C) Reduce the test duration to six months
D) Use online examinations on a yearly basis
Correct Answer: C

Question 6: What did the panel emphasize for civil servants' improvement?
A) Enhance technical expertise
B) Improve communication skills
C) Develop a human touch and empathetic approach
D) Increase legal knowledge
Correct Answer: C

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What concerns did the parliamentary panel raise about civil service recruitment?
Answer: The panel expressed concern about the high selection rate of engineers, which may result in a decline in exceptional candidates from medical and specialized fields.

Q2. What is the current percentage of technical or medical candidates in civil services?
Answer: Over 70% of candidates selected in recent years through the UPSC Civil Services Exam have technical or medical backgrounds.

Q3. What improvements did the panel recommend for the UPSC recruitment process?
Answer: Recommendations included reevaluating recruitment procedures and reducing the test duration to six months, along with adopting computer-based exams.

Q4. How has the representation of medical candidates in civil services changed?
Answer: Representation of medical candidates has decreased significantly, from 14% in 2011 to just 4% by 2020.

Q5. What training aspects did the panel emphasize for civil servants?
Answer: The panel emphasized the importance of training civil servants to develop empathy and effective handling of law and order situations.