In India, being a civil servant is a highly sought-after job. The UPSC Civil Services Exam replaced the optional paper in the Prelims with the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in 2011. This is a test of the abilities that a future civil servant should possess. Logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, general mental ability, and basic numeracy are examples of these.
What is analytical thinking?
All of these necessitate analytical skills, or the ability to deconstruct information into smaller bits. Analytical reasoning is a skill that can be taught and learned. It is used to derive conclusions from given data and correctly answer questions. Analytical skills are defined by six questions: five Ws (What, Where, When, Why, and Who) and one H. (How). ‘What’ is the foundation of all other questions. Memorization is essential for obtaining accurate information. But our reasoning cannot end there. For example, if you are studying the Constitution, you must be familiar with the contents of the Articles. Then, by asking “why” and “how,” you can apply that knowledge to other fields.
The concept of reductionism has infiltrated analytical abilities. Reductionism refers to the tendency of humans to reduce complex situations to broad concepts such as politics, population, or capitalism. Social realities are far more complex, with unique connections that cannot be reduced to the same ideas. An excellent example is India’s mental health crisis. Life events, workplace exploitation, caste, or gender issues can all contribute to depression. There isn’t a single explanation.
How can you improve your analytical skills? Here are some tips:
Clarity: Keep your facts clear. If you know the ‘what’, you can easily connect topics by asking and answering the ‘how’ and the ‘why’. The best way to do this is to read current affairs daily.
Read editorials: They are the best examples of analytical skills in real-time on the most important events in the country.
Ask questions constantly: Look at everything dynamically and spend enough time on it before coming to a conclusion. You cannot do that in a hurry.
Multiple angles: Think of all possible angles to any situation. Take the example of water pollution. More angles mean unique thoughts.
Start reading: Get into the habit of reading. Competitive exams are not just about memorising and practising. They are also about ways to solve problems. Literature is full of examples that encourage you to think.
Play brain games: Take Chess for example. It requires exploring all possible angles to a problem, deconstructing information, and then concluding to act.
Start early and reap the benefits. Analytical skills give you an edge in competitive exams. The best way to inculcate these skills is to start early. Unlike others, analytical skills take time to develop and sharpen.
