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Let’s look at what is a foundation course. This is a short note on IAS/IPS overhaul proposal by the PMO.
On the proposed changes, there has been a necessary action to be taken on it so that it is implemented this year itself. According to former cabinet secretary BK Chaturvedi, the idea comes with its dangers because it gives enormous powers to the directors of institutes that train. It relegates independent bodies such as the UPSC to become a secondary fiddle.
What Is the Foundation Course?
It means that the UPSC score conducted by the All India Civil Services Examination is not sufficient for candidates to get their service allocated and have options for any preferential cadre allotment. Their performance will be evaluated again based on their performance in the foundation course. So before deciding on the candidate eligible for a particular service and the kind of cadre they deserve, their foundation course performance will be assessed.
It also highlights the multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections and the Sevottam model vision. Sources have confirmed that the PMO has already sought the opinions of the departments and ministries of cadre-controlling (Department of Training and Personnel), Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Forests).
What Is the Foundation Course and How Does It Help the Candidates?
It may be a great idea to evaluate various candidates for cadre allocation in the foundation course to ensure their seriousness while training. The process of service allocation must not be altered unless an independent and uniform assessment procedure is devised.
The Rules for All Services are Uniform
The current rules for All India Service officers make all probationers compulsory to immediately obtain cadre and service allocation based on the ranks they score in the exam held by the Union Public Service Commission. The multiplicity of various commissions for the vulnerable sections and the Sevottam model vision make it a uniform rule for all All-India Services, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and others.
State or cadre is allotted to IPS, Indian Forest Services (IFoS), and IAS officers. Merit does play a great role in allocations like these. Candidates are asked to present cadre by their preference in descending order. The preference of service is sought from successful candidates, but finally, allotment is based on availability and merit of seats.
The Pros and Cons of This Change
What is the foundation course, according to an aspirant, if the government implements the proposal. It will become demoralising for many candidates who slogged hard to get merit on the All India exams to obtain the service they prefer. No one will know what is waiting for them, according to an aspirant from civil service who has decided to reappear in exams to get a better score and his preferred service.
Sources from the government say that this move tends to be a reward based on the combination of a score of the foundation course and the exam. It is also looked at as a strategy to retain the right talent at the very early stages in their careers in the Centre to bring new ideology and make the policies better.
The government already began the reform procedure in All India Service rules by introducing an allocation policy for cadres earlier this year.
The policy helps candidates select their cadre from the various states segregated into five different zones. A candidate may also offer to exercise his choice for the cadre.
The Copy of the Letter
The suggestions for making these radical changes were provided in writing by the department of training and personnel the week before to ministries that do cadre controlling and others who belong to the All India service.
The letter copy is with the Financial Chronicle (FC), which has clearly stated that the direction to examine changes like these comes from the PMO himself, who wants others to comment as soon as possible so that the required changes can be implemented from the current year.
Conclusion
We have learned about what is a foundation course and how it helps candidates. How the candidates will be selected to join each academy is not known yet. However, a uniform training programme for all the candidates will help determine them based on the combined score in this course, and the main exam would be more practical and realistic.
If the Prime Minister’s office manages to have its way, just getting a good score in the main exam held by the Union Public Service Commission would not be sufficient to obtain an All India service job of your preference.
Individual discretion has always been a crucial stage of life. Moreover, the course is holistic, and the test is not just for learning but for a range of other related performances.
