The P.S. Educational Society has recently launched a coaching centre for aspirants who wish to ace the Civil Services Exam. The Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Academy for Civil Services, a unit of the society, will admit 30 students in its first batch, and it will aim to appear for the preliminary examination in 2025, said society president K.V.S. Gopalakrishnan, a former Indian Police Service officer.
As part of this initiative, former Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Chairman D.P. Agarwal addressed students and parents at the P.S. Senior Secondary School on R.K. Mutt Road on Sunday. Agarwal, who had been the UPSC’s Chairman from 2008 to 2014, gave the audience a glimpse of civil services.
Around 12 lakh candidates annually apply for just around 15,000 vacancies, which the government announces. “My experience in the 11 years in the commission is that UPSC only selects based on merit,” he said, adding: “You should know you are competing against 12 lakh (candidates) from across India. They come from various cultural, educational, and economic backgrounds.”
He said the selection committee does not differentiate based on the number of attempts or on the categories to which the candidates belong. Agarwal urged the academy to provide students with books that gave them the correct information. He further mentioned that candidates should also be taught the importance of comprehending number manipulation and English comprehension.
According to Gopalakrishnan, seven applicants have already signed up for the course. The applicants would be selected based on how well they did on an aptitude exam. The aim is to admit between 25 and 30 candidates. The classes will take place at the school after school hours and on holidays
