Lack of infrastructure
affects success of Gujaratis in UPSC exams
Gujaratis
don’t do well in the civil services especially the UPSC conducted exams
for IAS, IPS, and other class I and II exams. Unfortunately, this is
not just a general feeling but a fact substantiated by figures. The
reason for this is not just a lack of a tendency to go for the civil
services in the students but a lack of infrastructure and atmosphere
for the preparation of civil services.
Since 1992, about 20 Gujarati
students have got through the civil services. From this, only two students
have got IAS, three students have got IPS, and five students have got
IRS.
It is generally believed
that students from Gujarat tend to be business minded and don’t try
for civil services. But this is not entirely true. For the year 2000,
about 11,000 students from Gujarat have filled up the preliminary examination
forms.
According to the candidates
appearing in the exams, proper coaching, guidance material and the proper
atmosphere for these exams are the key. Also perseverance, consistent,
extensive and focused reading is lacking among those who prepare for
the civils. The basic study approach, which the student inculcates during
schooling, is also missing.
Piyush Patel, IPS, who
is at Hyderabad undergoing training, says, "Getting proper guidance
is a big problem in Gujarat." He added that the syllabus of the Gujarat
University is not in tune with the UPSC syllabus like Delhi or JNU.
Also, the depth of subject covered and level of questions asked in exams
is below par. So the students do not get prepared for the exams. Even
during the schooling, the textbooks are not of the same level as the
NCERT textbooks. So the students don’t get required exposure to disciplined
reading. Moreover, the professors are also not aware of the UPSC pattern
of checking and the students find it difficult to get proper guidance.
Mr Patel feels that the phobia for English is also a major problem with
the students. Good and rich material is available in English, but students
prefer to read whatever material they get in Gujarati. Moreover, it
is necessary to read two or three books and make notes to have qualitative
material for the civils. Mr Patel had cleared the prelims on the first
try and got IPS on his fourth and last attempt.
Mohan Patel, director,
Sardar Patel Seva Samaj for competitive exams, who has been coaching
students for civil services since last eight years, says, "The problem
is deep-rooted in the social structure and pattern of studies as well
as the psyche of the students." He explains that the study for the UPSC
exam requires a multi-pronged approach as the student who clears these
exams are required to have the ability to grasp the subject, write clearly
and concisely and have a command over the preferred language. Our society
does not really prepare the students on these grounds. Piyush Patel,
Samir Vakil, Hemant Leuva and many other successful aspirants are students
of this centre. Mr Patel adds that many students don’t understand the
syllabus and the requirements of the UPSC and thus don’t read the relevant
material.
Samir Vakil, IRS, Gujarat
cadre, says that three to four years’ preparation and written practice
is the key to success. Mr Vakil adds that focused study and planned
groundwork will help any student clear the exam. He feels that main
problem is that faculty with UPSC exposure is not available to coach
students in Ahmedabad.
Hemant Leuva, who is at
Nagpur, undergoing training for the Indian Revenue Service cleared the
civils on his fifth attempt. He also echoes the feelings citing lack
of awareness at an early age, place fixation, language barriers and
non-availability of suitable material and able guidance as the basic
things missing. Mr Leuva feels awareness and preparation at an early
date is the key to success at UPSC. The government can help by starting
counselling sessions from class 10 onwards for this. Books for study
can be made available through training institutes like Sardar Patel
Institute for Public Administration. Mr Leuva adds that better job security
at the state level through regular exams conducted by the Gujarat State
Public Service Commission will also help a lot. Unfortunately, the GPSC
has not conducted a class I or II exam since 1992.
SPIPA is a government-training
centre, which has a cell to train promising students from Gujarat. Almost
all the students who have cleared the civils from Gujarat have been
students of SPIPA. Mr S.V Trivedi, the course coordinator of the course,
says, "One of the biggest problems is that students are not able to
study with perseverance throughout the year. What is really required
is that students forget everything and focus only on the exam for at
least a year." But former students of the institute complain that while
UPSC gives four attempts to pass the exam, SPIPA allows the student
to stay in the hostel for only one year. What is even more regretful
is that in spite of being a government run institute, SPIPA discriminates
between girls and boys preparing for the exam and gives hostel facility
only to the boys. Mr Trivedi says that it is the government’s policy
decision.
Vrunda Shah, who cleared
the prelims four times but was not able to clear the mains, said that
the students are not aware that the prelims and mains are one big selection
procedure. The students should understand that they have to prepare
for the mains before they even sit for the prelims. She said "My mistake
was that I prepared for the exam in stages. If I had been told about
this, I would not have wasted my attempts understanding the exam pattern."
Rakesh Vyas who reached the interview stage, but failed to make it to
the final list says, "Most of the students opt for history and Gujarati
literature. While most of the literature subjects fetch marks up to
450, Gujarati literature has never fetched marks beyond 380 for students."
Sanjay Vania, who is giving the exam, feels that the Gujarat University
should also have a coaching centre. Dr Naresh Ved, vice-chancellor of
university, says that the university is planning to open such a centre
but is looking for donations to run the institute.
