Centre for grooming civil service aspirants

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 14: Data show that the Northeast has not been able to contribute to the civil services compared to other states in the country. Aspirants from the region move out to Delhi or Rajasthan to prepare for civil services. Is the absence of coaching institutes only reason behind this migration? There seems to be other reasons as well.

Guwahati-based youth and IAS aspirant Angshuman Gogoi, in his entrepreneurship venture, has come up with Competition care- a 24/7 study centre, a first of its kind in the state. “There is a huge turnover in civil services from Delhi and Rajasthan and other states. Aspirants usually give in maximum amount of their time studding. Study centres in these states also play a major role in such huge turnover. Group study is equally important as coaching centres are. Study centres are also mediums of knowledge sharing. One can cover more of the syllabus in such centres than he could have done alone. This is crucial in so far as cracking competitive exams are concerned.  In the state we lack such infrastructure. So I decided to start one at cheaper charges than the ones in Delhi or other places,” he said.

  Located in the serene and silent environment of Dalbari at Satgaon in the city, Competition care also houses a 24/7 canteen and accommodation facilities for the aspirants. It has a sitting capacity of 70 people. Currently 20 aspirants from several districts of the state are studding here. “Candidates preparing for other competitive examitions other than civil services also come to study here. We have aspirants from Joi, Sivsagar, Golaghat, and others. Officers who are aspiring for UPSC are also giving in 12 to 18 hours in a day here. The new aspirants feel confident seeing them studying together and discuss their doubts with them. They bring in their own material to study. Superintendent of tax, Gapati Roy and a few ACS officers who are on leave without pay are studding for IAS here. Last year ACS Partha Khanikar gave in 15 to 18 hours per day here,” Gogoi said.

“Group study is an important tool and of the infrastructures of civil services preparation. Because of many reasons I cannot study at the place where I am staying. I would appear for civil services examition next year. Here, we can also clear our doubts with the officers who are preparing for allied services,” Sudip Saha, a student of BA 4th semester, said.

Gogoi is sales tax inspector and is currently on leave without pay.