Snapshot (confirmed)
- Overall feel: doable → moderate. Essay word limit 250–300; RC count 5 (up from 4 last year). Topics matched current affairs/management.
- Official pattern: Paper-1 is Descriptive English (Essay/Précis/RC), 100 marks, 60 minutes, 3 questions. Paper-1 is evaluated only if you secure minimum qualifying marks in Paper-2; Phase-II has 85% weight in final selection (Interview 15%). oldwebsite.pfrda.org.in
What came this year (memory-based)
- Essay (pick 1):
- Role of AI in modern development
- How unhappy customers can help business development
- Educational institutes mandating internships / benefits of degrees
- Précis: Japan’s demographic challenge — declining births, youth incentives, role of AI/robotics.
- Reading Comprehension: Mismatch between modern lifestyle and human body; 5 questions this year.
Difficulty & what it means for marks
- Essay: predictable themes; quality differentiator = structure, examples, and crisp conclusions. (Moderate.)
- Précis: trickier due to policy/tech blend (Japan + AI/robotics). Compression and neutrality mattered. (Moderate.)
- RC: familiar science/society theme; slightly longer set with 5 Qs. Time management mattered. (Easy → Moderate.)
Reminder: Paper-1 marks count only if Paper-2 minimum is met; this is explicitly stated in the official advertisement. oldwebsite.pfrda.org.in
How evaluators typically score (practical rubric you can share)
(Indicative; PFRDA – Essay – 30 marks/ Précis 30 marks and RC 40 marks (carry heavier weight)
Essay (focus on): relevance to the prompt, paragraphing, coherence, examples/data points, conclusion, grammar, and word-limit discipline.
Précis (focus on): faithful central idea, logical flow, ~1/3 length compression, own words, title, and no opinions.
RC (focus on): return to passage for evidence; avoid outside knowledge; answer exactly what’s asked.
Quick self-banding (to calm “how many marks might I get?” anxiety)
- Band A (High): Precise structure; 0–2 minor grammar slips; strict word-limit adherence; title in précis; RC ≥80% correct.
- Band B (Good): Minor digressions or a few grammar/typing slips; slightly off word limit; RC 60–80% correct.
- Band C (Average): Vague thesis, repetition, or noticeable grammar issues; RC <60% correct; précis misses one key idea.
- Band D (Low): Off-topic essay, heavily over/under word limit, précis opinionated/too long/too short, RC guesswork.
Top 12 FAQs (with straight answers)
- Was the paper tough?
Doable → moderate. If you practiced typing + structured writing, you likely felt comfortable. - What’s the word-limit tolerance?
Stay within 250–300 for essay; précis ~1/3rd of original. Exceeding/undershooting usually attracts proportionate penalty in content/format. - Spelling & grammar mistakes = heavy penalty?
A few slips = minor deduction; repeated tense errors, subject-verb issues, or punctuation chaos = meaningful penalty. (Focus: clarity + correctness.) - Is bulleting allowed?
Yes for structure, but keep an essay’s flow (intro–body–conclusion). Don’t submit only bullets. - Do I need “facts & figures”?
Helpful if accurate and integrated. You won’t be rewarded for random stats; clarity > clutter. - Précis title compulsory?
Strongly recommended. A crisp, neutral title signals you captured the central idea. - RC strategy?
Read questions first → skim passage → answer with line evidence. Keep answers specific. - Will Paper-1 be checked if Paper-2 was weak?
Paper-1 is evaluated only if you get minimum qualifying marks in Paper-2 (official). oldwebsite.pfrda.org.in - How is Phase-II used in final merit?
Phase-II = 85% weight, Interview = 15% (official). oldwebsite.pfrda.org.in - Expected cut-offs?
No official numbers yet; avoid speculation. Overall merit hinges on Paper-2 + strong Paper-1 writing. (Check official updates only.) oldwebsite.pfrda.org.in - Should I worry if my essay was simple?
Simple, well-structured, and relevant beats flashy but unfocused writing every time. - What if I slightly exceeded the limit?
Small overruns are usually tolerable if content is tight; big overruns/underruns hurt coherence and format scores.
Bank Whizz model answers (ready to share)
Model Essay (Word Count: 272)
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Development
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in shaping the 21st century, redefining how societies function, how businesses compete, and how governments deliver services. Its integration into modern development is not merely about technological advancement but about creating efficient, inclusive, and sustainable growth models.
In governance, AI has enhanced decision-making by enabling predictive analytics in areas like healthcare, agriculture, and disaster management. For example, AI-driven disease surveillance systems can detect outbreaks early, while precision agriculture tools help farmers optimise yields and reduce input costs. In financial services, regulators and institutions rely on AI to strengthen fraud detection, assess creditworthiness, and improve customer engagement through personalised insights. Pension and insurance sectors, too, are leveraging AI for risk modelling and to expand financial inclusion.
Industry and commerce benefit through automation of repetitive tasks, supply chain optimisation, and real-time analytics, thereby boosting productivity and global competitiveness. Small and medium enterprises especially gain from AI-enabled tools that reduce operational costs and widen market reach. In education, AI-powered adaptive learning platforms provide personalised pathways, making knowledge dissemination more effective and equitable.
However, unchecked adoption carries risks: algorithmic bias, data privacy breaches, and job displacement. To counter these, nations must invest in ethical frameworks, transparent regulations, and large-scale reskilling programmes. Public-private collaboration is critical to ensure responsible innovation while safeguarding human welfare.
Ultimately, AI should not be seen as replacing human intelligence but augmenting it. By applying AI responsibly, societies can unlock higher productivity, inclusive service delivery, and long-term sustainability. In this way, AI becomes not just a tool of modernisation but a catalyst for holistic human development.
Model Essay (Word Count: 266)
How Unhappy Customers Can Help Business Development
In the competitive marketplace, businesses often consider customer dissatisfaction as a threat. However, when handled with the right perspective, unhappy customers can become powerful agents of growth and long-term development. Their complaints, feedback, and frustrations provide an unfiltered view of weaknesses that internal teams might otherwise overlook.
First, customer dissatisfaction acts as a mirror that reflects gaps in product quality, service delivery, or communication. For example, if several customers report delays in delivery, it indicates a systemic flaw that needs urgent attention. By addressing these gaps, businesses not only prevent future losses but also enhance operational efficiency.
Second, listening to unhappy customers strengthens brand credibility. When grievances are resolved promptly and transparently, customers often transform into loyal advocates. Their positive word-of-mouth after a successful redressal carries more weight than traditional advertising because it is rooted in genuine experience. Companies like Amazon and Zappos have built reputations precisely by converting complaints into opportunities for service excellence.
Moreover, patterns in customer complaints provide valuable data for innovation. They highlight evolving expectations and unmet needs, guiding firms to redesign products, expand features, or rethink pricing strategies. Instead of relying only on market research, real-time feedback from dissatisfied users offers actionable insights at minimal cost.
Of course, mishandling unhappy customers can have the opposite effect, leading to reputational damage. Hence, organisations must cultivate a culture of empathy, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
In conclusion, unhappy customers should not be dismissed as obstacles but embraced as catalysts for business development. When their voices are heard and acted upon, they not only improve products and services but also help businesses gain resilience, adaptability, and sustainable growth.
Model Essay (Word Count: 274)
Educational Institutes Mandating Internships: The Hidden Benefits of Degrees
In the knowledge-driven economy, a degree alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee employability. Employers increasingly seek candidates who combine theoretical knowledge with practical exposure. This has prompted many educational institutes to make internships a mandatory part of their degree programmes, a trend that significantly enhances the value of higher education.
Internships bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. They expose students to industry practices, workplace dynamics, and problem-solving in live environments. For instance, management graduates who intern with banks or corporations gain first-hand understanding of customer behaviour, regulatory compliance, and digital tools—skills that cannot be mastered through textbooks alone. Such experiences cultivate adaptability and professional confidence, making graduates more work-ready.
Mandating internships also benefits institutions by strengthening ties with industry. Companies engaging with interns often provide feedback that helps universities update curricula, ensuring that education remains relevant to market needs. This symbiotic relationship creates a steady talent pipeline and improves placement outcomes, thereby enhancing the reputation of the degree itself.
For students, internships provide clarity about career paths and build networks that can translate into job offers. Even when experiences are challenging, they teach resilience and highlight areas for personal improvement. Additionally, internships reduce the learning curve during first jobs, making transitions smoother and more productive for both employers and employees.
However, successful implementation requires structured guidelines, fair evaluation, and inclusivity so that students from all backgrounds have equal access.
In conclusion, mandating internships transforms degrees from mere academic certifications into holistic platforms for personal and professional growth. By embedding practical exposure within education, institutes ensure that degrees remain meaningful in a rapidly evolving world of work.
Model Précis (152 words) — Japan’s Demographic Crossroads
Japan faces a sustained fall in fertility alongside rising life expectancy, shrinking its workforce and straining pensions and healthcare. Successive governments have offered incentives—cash allowances, subsidised childcare, parental leave, and housing support—to ease the cost of raising children, yet births remain below replacement. Employers and cities experiment with flexible work and community services, but social norms, long hours, and high urban costs blunt impact. To sustain living standards, Japan is also turning to technology: AI and robotics automate factories, care homes, and transport, lifting productivity and compensating for labour gaps. However, machines cannot fully replace human care or creativity, so policy now blends family support with selective immigration, senior employment, and reskilling. The demographic challenge is therefore two-fold: making parenthood easier today while redesigning institutions for an older society. Progress will depend on persistent reforms, inclusive workplaces, and ethical tech adoption that raises productivity without eroding social cohesion.
Quick self-check forms for students
- Essay 10-point check: Clear thesis? Directly answers prompt? 3–4 paragraphs? One example/policy/data point? Transitions? Concise sentences? Word limit respected? Active voice? Clean conclusion? Proofread once?
- Précis 8-point check: One-third length? Central idea intact? No opinions? Logical sequence? Your own words? Title added? No examples invented? Grammar/punctuation clean?
- RC 6-point check: Locate evidence lines? Eliminate extreme options? Avoid outside facts? Stick to scope? Check synonyms/tones? Re-read the stem after marking?