Nearly 43 per cent candidates skipped Civil Services preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) here on Sunday.
Of the 40,018 candidates, only 57.10 per cent turned up. In the morning shift, 23,123 (57.78 per cent) aspirants appeared, while 16,895 skipped the exam.
In the second shift, 22,851 candidates appeared (57.10 per cent) and 17,167 gave it a miss. About 50 per cent candidates had skipped the exam in 2020.
Meanwhile, the candidates who appeared found the General Studies (GS) paper very tough as compared to previous year. The UPSC conducts civil services exam every year for the posts of IAS, IPS, IRS and other services in country.
Rajeshwar Singh, an aspirant who came from Barabanki to write the exam said, "The general studies question paper was quite tough this year. I took the same exam last year too, but this year the paper was much more difficult."
The second paper 'Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)' was easy, he said. The exam was held in 86 exam centres in the state capital.
Internet Memes follow
Soon after the exam, several aspirants flooded the social media with memes. The paper-I had more questions from Ecology and Current affairs. With many lengthy questions, candidates were tested in conceptual clarity.
The aspirants were also disappointed that no questions to answer through the elimination method was possible. They hit the social media posting on the toughness of the paper and the situation for aspirants.
Here are some:
When you are in your fifth attempt and the invigilator is telling you instructions about attempting the prelims paper. pic.twitter.com/7iZeuqupLq
— Jyoti (@virgojyoti02) May 27, 2023
After UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1#UPSCPrelims2023 #UPSC2023 pic.twitter.com/vtSidxvNJh
— Upsc Civil Services Exam (@UpscforAll) May 28, 2023
Last 5 years CSE Prelims cutoff#upsc #UPSC2022 #upscprelims pic.twitter.com/oe3jgMWXi1
— UPSC NOTES (@UPSC_Notes) May 23, 2023
Aspirants after attempting UPSC prelims 2023 GS paper 1 pic.twitter.com/ES0JCALPwX
— Puneet Bohra (@alienmessi30) May 28, 2023
✅Aspirants in Exam Hall after looking at today's Prelims Paper?
— GamifyUPSC-Mentor (@RandomIndianFa1) May 28, 2023
✅Probably the TOUGHEST Prelims Paper of the Decade!#UPSCPrelims2023 pic.twitter.com/DXEwrNrSV9
Was expected after today’s UPSC prelims paper. Someone has tried to destroy UPSC. #UPSCPrelims2023 #UPSC pic.twitter.com/Mb6du3yC3C
— Vinay Kumar G B (@vinaygb) May 28, 2023
Trying to navigate my way through prelims and then finally clearing it.
— Jyoti (@virgojyoti02) May 25, 2023
Such a relief ? pic.twitter.com/ztvaEvCEyZ
RIP? UPSC prelims GS paper pic.twitter.com/01V3IZfd0v
— Aniket Tiwari ?? (@itztheani) May 28, 2023