Group – I Main paper-V stumps aspirants

The Group – I Main paper V – Science & Technology and Data Interpretation (DI) – examination left several aspirants frustrated and disheartened, particularly due to the demanding DI section.

Several candidates who appeared for the examination conducted in 46 centres in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts on Saturday reported that DI questions to be too lengthy besides requiring extensive calculations to arrive at the answers.

The aspirants were tasked with answering 25 out of 30 questions in the DI section, each worth two marks. While the paper format was familiar, the way the problems were framed proved to be a significant hurdle to several students both from mathematics and non-mathematics backgrounds. Given the toughness, candidates felt that this paper may turn out to be a deciding factor for their Group – I job selection.

“This paper has been the toughest among all the papers held so far. Since sure shot answers can be arrived at in the DI, I started with this section. However, to



my surprise the questions were lengthy and required lengthy calculations. Generally, it takes about 2 to 2.5 minutes for calculations but these questions consumed a lot of time. I was overwhelmed during the exam,” said Sharath Chandra, a Group – I aspirant with a non-mathematics background.

Chandra’s sentiment was echoed by several candidates who were from the mathematics background. One such candidate is Ramscha who said the DI section was on the lines of the questions asked for bank jobs or jobs that required expertise in mathematics.

“These kinds of questions are generally asked in bank jobs recruitment exams and CAT but not for administrative positions. Even the UPSC does not frame such questions,” said Ramsha, a Group – I aspirant with an engineering degree.

Several aspirants urged the TGPSC to do away with the DI section as was done by the APPSC. They wanted the Commission to introduce the law and ethics or public administration section since the preliminary examination already tests candidates in DI.