UPSC at 100: Commission focuses on exam reforms to test reasoning and critical thinking
The Union Public Service Commission marked its centenary on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the two-day celebrations titled 'Manthan' at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar emphasized the commission's commitment to examination reforms aimed at assessing candidates' reasoning, spontaneous thinking, and judgment under ambiguity rather than their ability to reproduce predictable or coached answers.
Kumar outlined the commission's vision through three guiding principles: trust, transparency, and technology. He stressed that while examination formats and technology can evolve, the core constitutional principles of merit, fairness, and equal opportunity remain enduring. The chairman highlighted that the focus should be on qualities that cannot be captured by model answers, moving away from rote memorization in civil service selection. Digital e-admit cards and face authentication have been introduced as measures to strengthen examination integrity.
The UPSC undertakes around 250 distinct recruitment processes annually across disciplines including engineering, medicine, science, economics, and defence, alongside conducting the Civil Services Examination yearly. During the celebrations, PM Modi is scheduled to release a commemorative coin, stamp, and a book titled '100 Landmark Judgements: Shaping the Policies of UPSC and Public Service Commissions in India'.
