Mentor’s Comment:
Introduction should mention the definition of aptitude and some types of it.
The main body should discuss the qptitude/qualities needed by a civil servant to be effective. Like Physical Aptitude, Mental Aptitude etc.
Further mention what measures you have taken to make yourself fit. Keeping oneself physically fit, developing value aspects through various means and continuous learning, thinking actively and being aware etc.
Next bring conclusion. Talk about rewarding yourself when doing good in maintaining aptitude.
Model Answer:
Aptitude is an innate set of characteristics, regarded as symptomatic of an individual’s ability to acquire, with adequate training, some knowledge, a set of skills, like the ability to produce music, or ability to perform administrative functions etc. Aptitudes may be physical or mental. Aptitude is not developed knowledge, learned or acquired abilities (skills) or attitude. The innate nature of aptitude is in contrast to achievement, which represents knowledge or ability that is gained through learning.
Following are some of the characteristics of aptitude:
- Aptitude refers to some future potentiality.
- Aptitude is innate capability.
- Aptitude implies fitness or suitability for activities in question.
Broadly, there are two types of aptitude required for civil services:
- Physical Aptitude: It is physical and physiological fitness for efficiently performing one’s duty. It is more relevant for those services, which require field work.
- Mental Aptitude: It includes those qualities, which have to do with the psychological or cognitive processes. It is regarded as important for all types of services, more so for civil services. It may further be classified as under:
– General Mental Ability: It is the basic thinking capacity needed for any intellectual task. It is the foundation on which lie the other components of aptitude.
– Appropriate Value System: It is the combination of the desired values, like empathy, objectivity, impartiality, commitment, compassion etc. For civil services this component of aptitude is most important for performing one’s job, not only efficiently, but also effectively.
As an aspirant of civil services, I have taken the following measures for making myself fit for the same:
- Since, healthy mind resides in a healthy body; therefore, for keeping myself physically fit I perform physical workout regularly.
- While, the general mental capacity remains almost constant throughout one’s life, value aspect can be developed through various means, like learning the teachings of great moral, philosophical and administrative thinkers; changing one’s peer group, which are more deserving and fit for civil services, because we learn through observation (Bandura); performing some activities which are required to be performed by a civil servant, like to be empathetic to others, to uphold standards of morality/ethics, adhering to the law of the land etc.
Though, these things are easier said than done and it is very difficult for anyone to always follow and practice them. Therefore, to keep myself motivated to do them, I reward myself whenever I do any of the abovementioned things. Some of the other methods to develop appropriate attitude include reading books, meeting civil servants and talking about their experiences, interacting with people from all walks of life to understand their perspective and ideas on issues etc.
Since, aptitude is an innate potentiality, therefore, one cannot develop an aptitude if it is completely absent from one’s psychophysical system. However, one can enhance his/her abilities if one is blessed with them.