Extend prelims date for AE exam

Editor,

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the chairman and secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to a matter of serious concern affecting a large number of aspirants, especially ageing aspirant.

The release of the AE exam advertisement was truly welcome, especially after the 2022 APPSC AE exam fiasco which took down the whole state, affecting all the aspirants mentally and morally.

The recent changes in the syllabus of AE exam was a positive and welcome move by the commission. However, the change in syllabus just two months prior to the examination has affected the preparation for all, especially the old aspirants who had relied on the old syllabus that had been used since the inception of the commission.

Eleven subjects, including structural analysis, fluid mechanic, hydraulics, hydrology, irrigation engineering, construction management (pert & CPM) and cost estimation, construction material, engineering mechanic, survey, solid waste management and air pollution, have been added while removing prominent subject like building construction and core estimation subject (assuming).

There is no doubt that the overall syllabus given by the commission is one among the best in the country. However, the time given by the commission is very constraining and frustrating. The first batch of newly added syllabus provided by any coaching institute in the state has not been completed till today [after the release of notification for new AE syllabus by the commission on 9 May]. Now the courses are being taken on prioritising some subjects and leaving some subjects, ie, structural analysis itself takes a minimum of 40 sessions of intense two-and-a-half hours (average) of classes offered in a crash course module. Likewise, fluid mechanics takes a minimum of 45 plus sessions, and so on with most of the new added subjects.

The MCQ-based exam in the prelims itself requires a minimum of one month of intense practice.

As no one would like to give the exam half prepared, I am hoping that the issue will be considered by the commission and it will extend the date of the prelims exam to a reasonable timeframe, so that all the aspirants get the fair opportunity which is needed for a healthy competition.

A serious aspirant of AE (Civil)