BCS Preliminary is not the problem

The suggestion of raising the number of the primary selection exam from 100 to 200 by the
service commission is under the final approval of the government, this is known from the
newspapers. The proposition includes changes in the question pattern also. There is a
consideration to test writing ability besides the multiple questions in the exam. The reason for
this change is stated that there were 46 thousand candidates selected for the written exam. There
are infrastructural, evaluation problems to carry out the written exam for this large number of
candidates. For this reason the service commission wants to upgrade the system and allow fewer
candidates to the written exam. There is no way to disagree with the reasons service commission
stated, but there is doubt over the selection process of the preliminary exam.
There is no determined pass number for BCS preliminary. The commission decides how many
candidates will be selected for the written exam over the void positions and other related matters.
Around one hundred twenty five thousand to one hundred fifty thousand candidates took part in
28th to 31st BCS preliminary. Only 10-14 thousand candidates took place in the merit list. There
was no discussion, criticism over these selections. In the 34th BCS preliminary the quota system
created an imbalanced situation from the first. In the quota list a lot of candidates were given
chance to sit for the written exam with a lot less marks, but in the merit list, many candidates
were not allowed in the written exam with excellent marks. This imbalance generated anger and
protest; to handle this situation around 50 thousand candidates were allowed to sit for the written
exam. The idea of raising the preliminary exam numbers does not seem to be fruitful. If there is
a written portion along with the preliminary, the scrutinizing system for the one hundred fifty
hundred thousand candidates would take a lengthy period. To solve a problem, new problems
might arise, and the problem does not lie there. This decision should be thought over before any
conclusion. The jobs of the civilian administration cadre are part of BCS, and PSC selects and
provide candidates for these posts. There are appropriate regulations for these selections, if the
regulations are followed, the republic gets worthy service providers. The molders of this nation
provided equal chance for everybody through this regulation, with quotas for the backward
groups of this country. But what happened in the reality is known to everybody. Preliminary,
written, and viva- these are the 3 steps of BCS selection. It is same for the neighboring country
India. But they select only 11-12 times more than the void positions. This gives chance to the
more intelligent candidates. Our quota system questions our whole selection system. If we follow
the footsteps of India, quota system would be only for the less privileged of the society. But we
saved up to 50% seats for the quota selection. This lead to the positions being empty also even
after the selection. The morality of the quota system is questionable when there are not
meritorious candidates for the empty positions. The ratio of these quotas is more questionable.
Then there comes the question of viva marking. It was 200 marks, and with it the marking
system was dubious. After a lot of criticism it was lessen to 100 marks. After the 30th BCS it
when to same, and the doubt remains. Whenever it is criticized the authority claims the example
of the past ICS and CSS exam system. But we remain a blind eye about the doubt it creates. This
led our organizational acceptance and quality to be questioned again and again. More or less the

questions of corruption and face validity became general. The misuse of power could be
lessening if the viva marking was 100 or so. Even the third grade employers and primary
teachers appointing viva exams are corrupted with huge marking system. The viva marking
could be raised when our selection process will be appropriate like CSS and ICS once again. Our
constitutional organization PSC sometimes proved their acceptance, but it was never consistent,
it was questioned most of the times. If the quota system is not modified, all these changes would
not be helpful. The huge number of allowed candidates and arranging a large viva exam for them
would be difficult. It would raise disgrace, and anger as this leads less meritorious applicants into
important positions of the republic whereas merit should be the only option.
A lot of countries carry their administration based on this reality. During the ancient period
aristocracy was the key to these appointing. But around 2000 years before China started the merit
based civil service. And after 500 years this system found administrative base in that country.
Around the 16th century, West found it astounding and applied it. This was a gift from China;
Around 1554 France first applied this system. Then it was adopted in other western countries.
Our continent was introduced to this system by the British rule on merit basis. But a difference
was for the less privileged. Nobody wants the extinction of that difference. Everybody wants the
perfect ratio and justice for the quota system. What happened in the past should remain in the
past, it should not occur in the future. This depressing culture should be banished and necessary
steps should be taken in this regard. There is no scope to respond in changing of marks in the
selection process.