Haryana Institute of Public Administration or HIPA is the institute for training of Haryana Civil Servants. Preparations for state PCS is also a bit hectic and those who were through HCS exam were drafting plans of making most of the 6 months long HIPA class room training. Enjoying the warmth of quilts in December cold was one of the key items on 'Chilling-out-at-HIPA-plan' of trainee officers. Their worst nightmares came true when they learned that they will have to do compulsory PT @ 6 am in the morning in the biting cold (which was relaxed to 7 am amid heavy protests). PT instructor Mr Rana was formerly at LBSNAA Massouri whom our DG brought to HIPA to make Haryanvi officers look more like 'officers'. Its been almost 2 months in training and everyone now appreciate that physical fitness for an officer is as important as professional competence as it increases efficiency manifolds and imparts smartness in an officer. Given the growing hectic work-culture in government offices and increasing life-style diseases, morning PT can be a good stress buster and a great fitness tool. Inculcating this habit early in career will surely pay huge dividends towards the fag end of the career as well as life.
Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by UPSC is gateway to the elite government services in India. Three years back, UPSC introduced comprehensive changes in the scheme of CSE preliminary examination. Many students demanded that since changes were comprehensive, they be given relaxation in terms of age and attempts as was done on earlier occasions also. UPSC on the other hand reasoned that 4 attempts are more than it would like to allow and various committees had already argued in favor of reducing number of attempts and age limit. Unlike other entrance examinations, CSE follows a painfully protracted process and traps the aspirants into a vicious cycle of preparation which ends only after 4 grueling attempts are exhausted and 5 precious years of life are gone. Worse, as the age of the aspirant ripens, the unsuccessful aspirant finds himself or herself in a pitiable position where other career prospects also become bleak. On the other hand, given the growing loss of moral values in civil services, UPSC might be rightly thinking of promoting younger minds by reducing age limit and number of attempts as young minds are more amenable to be moulded in a desired moral frame. However, it must also be ensured that those coming from rural backgrounds are not put in a disadvantaged position as they are the ones who face an acute awareness deficit in terms of career prospects and tightening the eligibility norms may further handicap their chances.
