In the 40th reunion of my 1983 IAS batch, held in Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, in June 2023, I had raised the issue of AI adoption in the curricula of the LBSNAA, for IAS probationers. My intention was based on the fact that AI was hotting up in the social media, and I felt it was appropriate that the Academy keeps up with the times.?
When a Times of India journalist, early this week, asked my views on AI and the UPSC, I instinctively gave my comments about its effective use, for throwing up inputs, enabling writing of better essays, which are part of the UPSC exam schedule. I promptly posted the entire article on LinkedIn, wherein my views were also highlighted.?
But on reflection, later, I found there are four large issues which need elaboration, and hence I am listing them below, without crying “Wolf”:?
- The article quotes an expert saying “By analysing patterns and trends, it can predict the areas from which questions are likely to be asked”. While this may not be so easy, my earnest thought on this is that the UPSC Board needs to sit and deliberate whether any past questions in any paper, should be repeated, even with a tweak. Such thinking is imperative to thwart all efforts of mischief mongers and AI expert claimants, who proclaim they can predict the UPSC paper through smart use of AI. If they succeed in their attempt to advertise also, they can make the gullible aspirants cough up hard earned money of their parents.?
- I also believe that in descriptive question-answer subjects like Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science which are very common among civil service aspirants, ChatGPT may help in efficient preparation of the aspirants, through generation of model answers. But this is where precaution is necessary by UPSC. Hence, I suggest that UPSC may consider issuing directions to all examiners that if similar sounding answers to a question are visible in several scripts, it could be the result of ChatGPT and hence, should not be taken kindly. Otherwise ChatGPT could become the next devil for the UPSC.?
Exactly the same logic applies to essay writing preparation because, while ChatGPT is good for generating inputs to be calibrated with one’s original thinking, to turn out a smart essay, it should not be used to reproduce essays in bulk, bearing huge resemblance to the AI output. That would defeat the very purpose of assessing the civil service aspirant’s ability to think through a topic, and articulate it intelligently.?
- I strongly feel that under no circumstances, should any UPSC center supervisor for UPSC exams, allow entry of cellphones clandestinely, inside the hall, including those of the invigilators and the water carrying boys. Invigilators must be supervised by Professors of integrity at each center, so that there is zero tolerance for cell phone entry. In districts of dubious reputation, UPSC may enlist the support of the DMs to ensure that a threat goes viral, that administration will have no holds barred to prevent such an eventuality. Otherwise the cell phone can ring the bell! and sound the death knell of UPSC.?
- UPSC is the mother of all exams with more than 10 lakhs aspirants who prepare for it and write the preliminary exam. If the Department of Personnel and Training which oversees UPSC, is not careful from the beginning, now, on misuse of AI in the exam, it will affect all exams down the line, with deep demonstration effects. CAT conducted by IIMs is the next big hit, in terms of numbers enrolled in it which is over 2 lakhs. I don’t understand how the CAT Exam Committee can allow online tests now, seeing the propensity of damage in assessing students who have garnered AI-enabled support. Hence, they need to be super vigilant because the data engineers who are aspirants, can break into the CAT exam system easily, with hugely powerful laptops at their fingertips.?
USA has finalized the AI related guidelines and the EU has also done it recently. Ministries of IT and Electronics are still forming Committees to study this. A word of caution for them because if they don’t act in haste, they may have to repent at leisure. Why? Because without precaution, the CAT will be out of the bag.?
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