Exploring the Latest Changes in CSAT Pattern for UPSC

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) has recently announced some major changes in the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern for this year’s examination. Aspiring candidates need to be aware of these changes and prepare accordingly to excel in the exam.

The revised CSAT pattern is expected to make the exam more comprehensive and assess candidates’ skills in a better way. Here are some of the latest changes in the CSAT pattern:

1. Reduction in the number of questions: The number of questions in the CSAT paper has been reduced from 80 to 72. However, this reduction will not affect the overall marks allotted to the paper.
2. Increase in the time duration: The time duration of the CSAT paper has been increased to 2 hours from the previous 1.5 hours. This will give candidates more time to understand the questions and solve them efficiently.
3. Introduction of Decision-making questions: This year, the UPSC has introduced decision-making questions in the CSAT exam paper. These questions will test a candidate’s problem-solving, analytical and decision-making abilities. They will be scenario-based questions, where candidates have to choose the best course of action from the given options.
4. Reduction in the weightage of Comprehension: The weightage of the comprehension section in the CSAT paper has been reduced from 33% to 27%. This means that candidates need to focus more on other sections of the paper, such as Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Decision-making.
5. More Focus on Ethics: The UPSC has given more emphasis on Ethics in the new CSAT pattern. The questions will revolve around ethical values, integrity, and aptitude.
6. No Negative Marking for Decision-making: Another significant change in the CSAT pattern is that there will be no negative marking for the decision-making section. This means that candidates can attempt all the questions without worrying about losing marks for incorrect answers.

These changes in the CSAT pattern are expected to make the exam more challenging and assess candidates’ skills more comprehensively. Candidates need to adapt their study strategies accordingly to perform well in the exam.

To prepare for the revised CSAT pattern, candidates need to focus on decision-making skills, quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning. They can practice previous year’s question papers, solve mock tests, and read newspapers regularly to stay updated on current affairs and ethical issues.