16 October 2026
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CSE Process Becoming Tougher, says Former IAS Officer

On Saturday, former IAS officer U. Sagayam spoke at a panel discussion hosted by Veranda IAS and The Hindu in Chennai.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The examination process of selecting candidates for the civil services, by the Union Public Service Commission is becoming increasingly tough, said former IAS officer U. Sagayam.

Mr. Sagayam stated at a panel discussion on ‘Why civil services is the key to modern Indian dreams’ organised by education institution Veranda IAS and The Hindu that data from prior years’ examinations show that the cut-off marks are definitely low. “Even when there are fewer vacancies, the cut-off remains low. It is critical for civil service test applicants to have a solid understanding of the cut-off marks. Such comprehension is quite beneficial,” he stated.

Mr. Sagayam stated that due to the increase in the number of openings to 1,105 in the UPSC’s notification for civil service examinations this year, there is a possibility of low cut off marks this year. Other elements that influence the cut off marks include the number of candidates that appear in that specific year and the nature of the examination. “That is one of the most difficult exams in the world.” A huge percentage of less capable pupils are weeded out.

According to Income Tax Additional Commissioner V. Nandakumar, an aspirant’s personality determines success in this examination. “The new examination system’s emphasis has shifted from subject orientation to aptitude orientation.” On this exam, aptitude is all about comprehension. Many engineering graduates fail this examination since the UPSC is looking for logical ability and aptitude rather than mathematical skills. When you enter the administration, you must understand the overall background, appraise what has transpired in the past, and make swift choices,” Mr. Nandakumar explained.

According to IPS officer Senthamarai Kannan, many aspirants from places such as Tamil Nadu have not passed the exam because most candidates begin preparing only after graduation, as opposed to other states where aspirants have the opportunity to prepare during their college days.


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