There has been rumors flying thick and fast regarding an impending change in the UPSC Civil Services exam pattern from optional subjects to compulsory subjects. Can anyone confirm or deny the rumor? Will it change in 2013 or 2014?

As a senior associate at WizIQ Courses and looking after the UPSC examination category I have seen lots of students with similar doubts. First of all to make things clear let me clarify that they aren't simply the rumors. Pattern & syllabus revision of IAS mains exams to make them more competitive and practical have been in the pipeline from many years but due to lack of any administrative will the reforms haven't taken place as yet. Secondly, there hasn't been any notification as such in the last year Civil services advertisement. And, none can verify any such revision of pattern until the UPSC brings out a notification in the next year advertisement. Thirdly, even if the proposed changes takes place next year in IAS mains exams a student will have to sit for Indian economy, public administration and combined geography and history paper. Lastly, don't worry the proposed pattern will only help the intelligent students clear the mains exams as it will leave no room upturn for one who rotes. for preparation purposes consult me @ http://www.wiziq.com/courses/upsc-ias-civil-services-preparation

The Nigavekar Committee, which was mandated to submit the recommendations regarding the reforms/changes in the exam pattern has submitted its report to the government. The recommendations haven't been made public yet although an RTI application was filed. It looks highly unlikely that these recommendations, if accepted, will result in the change of the 2013 exam pattern. Probably, they'll see the light of day in 2014. http://www.voiceee.com/2012/11/strategy-rti-reply-optional-subject.html

Its a pretty hot topic for IAS aspirants and nobody can tell with surety which year would the change be brought. But having said that, if we go with the technicality There was a committee set earlier this year to propose the changes suggested by the earlier committee for the exam which I think you might already be aware of. This committee would be reporting by DEC 2012 as according to the deadline and more likely the report would be affirmative with the changes suggested earlier.   So, first thing if we assume that the deadline would be followed and it would be green signal to go ahead with the changes, then what happened.   Listening to the words of UPSC chairman Mr. D.P. Agrawal   seems to be very enthusiastic about changing the pattern as the new pattern definitely is more relevant for the administrative post.   http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-03/india/30471562_1_upsc-optional-papers-civil-services    But contrary to that there was a statement by some minister recently http://164.100.47.132/lssnew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=119947   And I don't know who hold the power in this respect. Looks like if ministry again gets involved into this, this might take some time may be 2015-16, as they usually have a crappy process of committees after committees.   But if the supreme authority on this is UPSC we might see a pattern change as early as 2013.

well wth UPSC nothing is certain but having a look at the time table itself generates scepticism..i mean the mains this time are again in november (5th nov if i'm not wrong), so there is a possibility that the delay w.r.t. the recent shift in mains this year i.e. 5th oct has been done in order to accomodate the big change,if any..all we can do is wait patiently for any official notifications..godspeed..

Finally the decision of changing pattern for Civil Service Main 2013 exam has come to an end. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given his approval for the change in CSAT Main 2013 examination, which is conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). The UPSC is yet to give an official notice on the change taken place. The Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said that "The decision has been made. We will be notifying the changes in a day or two in the official Website". It is finally decided to have double weightage for General Studies (GS) papers in the Civil Service (Mains) Examination starting from 2013 onwardshttp://education.oneindia.in/news/2013/02/27/upsc-civil-service-mains-exam-2013-pattern-changed-004131.html