Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 16 2009:
The Manipuri Students Federation (MSF) has appealed Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh for the amendment of the 1:5 selection ratio (preliminary exam) incorporated in the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2008 for the better interest of the aspiring candidates in particular and the student community in general and allegedly proposed a ratio of 1:11 or 1:13 .
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister and made available to the media, Md Atabuddin, president of the MSF, pointed out that the rules of 2008 with the provision for candidates to be admitted to the Mains just five times the actual number of vacancies was in contrast to the normal practices of selecting 12-20 times the number of vacancies for admission to the mains examination as have been followed by the UPSC and other state service commission.
The MSF also asserted that the rule of 2008 was in complete contrast to the exam rules of 2005 where the ratio of 1:15 .
The MSF also asserted that the normal practice of selecting candidate i.e.12-20 times the number of vacancies from the prelims to the mains examination was highly desirable and acceptable as the nature of questions of the prelims was of objective type without any negative marking, the student body also pointed out that subject codes were not followed as should have been per rules.
It also reminded the chief minister that the 2008 rule of students being selected on a merge ratio of 1:5 was not informed prior to the exam.
Further asserting that selection of candidates on the ratio of 1:5, that too, on objective type, the student body held that it would not necessarily provide quality candidates for the mains examination.
In this regards, the MSF appealed the chief minister to amend the 2008 rule and make the short listing of the candidates for the mains examination to atleast in the ratio 1:11 or 1:13 for the better interest of the candidates in particular and the students in general.