Civil Services Prelims: Aspirants React to Lengthy and Conceptual Questions

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination concluded its first shift today amid tight security arrangements nationwide. As candidates stepped out, their expressions ranged from cautious optimism to visible concern, signaling a paper that tested both knowledge depth and time management. Feedback gathered from multiple cities indicates the General Studies paper struck a moderate-to-hard balance. Many aspirants struggled with lengthy, winding questions rooted in conceptual understanding, especially those covering central banking mechanisms, international developments, and foreign policy frameworks. Conversely, several direct questions from current affairs offered some respite. In Ajmer, candidate Shubham found the paper extremely challenging due to its emphasis on central banking and global issues. Vansh Kumawat noted a noticeable rise in questions from science, technology, environment, and current affairs, with history items requiring precise recall. A Gorakhpur aspirant felt the paper aligned well with her study plan, whereas Indore’s Vishal observed reduced weightage on polity topics. Punjab candidates mentioned fewer basic-level questions, and first-time test-taker Priyanka appreciated the overall quality. With the CSAT paper now underway from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, focus shifts to reasoning and quantitative skills. Many now expect a moderate cutoff adjustment given the paper’s difficulty.