State puts up poor show in UPSC

SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s performance in the elite examination of the Union Public Service Commission this year has been disappointing even as 13 aspiring candidates from neighbouring Assam have made it to the final list.
There are several factors, like lack of proper coaching, which have led to the poor show.
Commissioner and Secretary PS Kumar said some IAS aspirants from the state could not make it to the interview level.
“This time nobody appeared for the interview. Some went up to the Main Examination but could not make it to the interview level. Many people, I think, will be making the second attempt and will have more chances. Some are undergoing training,” he told The Shillong Times.
However, Kumar expects to see some local candidates to succeed by next year.
Last year, though 24 candidates from the North East cleared UPSC, there was no candidate from Meghalaya. The last time the state had a mention on the final list of UPSC was in 2013 when two women from Shillong cleared the exams.
As for the training of IAS aspirants from the state, Kumar said from the Meghalaya House in Delhi, the state has been sponsoring students in which the government is supporting 20 aspirants this year.
When asked, he said the state government has so far trained around 30 students.
Commenting on the aspirants from rural areas, Kumar said the deputy commissioners (DCs) in respective districts have been asked to identify and select the contenders.
He added an examination called Aptitude Assessment Test (AAT) is being conducted in which the DCs interview the aspirants after the written examination who are later sent to Delhi for training.
He informed there are aspirants from Mawkyrwat, Nongstoin, Jowai, Williamnagar and Tura who have gone for coaching.
“The plan is not only to send the aspirants to Delhi but we are planning to send them down South for those which the government is supporting for this year,” Kumar informed.
Stating that coaching is expensive, he said the government sponsors 15-20 aspirants.