Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC) has decided to abolish one optional subject of 300 Marks in Himachal Administrative Services (HAS) and Allied Services main examinations and substitute it by two papers of 150 marks each of general knowledge to give equal playing field to all candidates.
The decision will be implemented from 2016.
This decision was taken in a meeting held here today headed by Chairman, HPPSC K.S. Tomar which considered the preliminary report submitted by three Member Committee headed by Prof. J.C. Sharma. Tomar said,
“UPSC is now having one optional subject which will be applicable to HAS and Allied Services main written examinations w.e.f. 2016 batch”
The Chairman made it clear that existing system of two optional subjects of 300 marks each tilted the balance in favour of those candidates who opted for the papers as they are having very high scoring potential thereby creating imbalance. He said the Expert Committee had studied the written examinations pattern of UPSC, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Karnataka etc. prior to submitting the report to him.
He disclosed that Commission would send the new proposal of getting rid off one optional subject and introduction of two new GK Papers to the Government which will be approved by the Cabinet. The New Pattern would also help those candidates who compete for IAS exam as retention of one optional subject will prove beneficial to them for Civil Services examinations, he added.
“Now equal level playing field will be created for all candidates and none will be at the disadvantageous position due to high scoring optional subjects.
Henceforth, the Commission will add two new GK Papers of 150 marks each (GK Paper -II and GK Paper- III) and syllabus will be formulated by an expert Committee and Members will be drawn from Universities, and different fields. However, General Studies Paper – One will be retained by adding new topics besides updating the entire syllabus.
The New Papers will cover wide ranging topics like General Studies Paper-Two (Indian Constitution & Polity, Governance and International relations, Freedom Struggle, Economy, Statistics and Security issues.
General Studies Paper-Three (Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, Problem Solving and Decision making and Interpersonal skills including communication skills and handling the situation.
The current Papers of English (Qualifying) and Hindi (Qualifying) will also remain unchanged. Similarly, Essay paper will be part of main written examinations.
Members of the Commission Prof. J.C. Sharma, Pardeep Chauhan, R.S. Negi and Secretary, HP Public Service Commission B.C. Badalia were also present in the meeting.
