One ship sails to east while the other ship sails to west with the self same wind that blows. It's the position of your sails and not the direction of gales which take you to your destination.

The Study Circle does not "train" candidates for the Civil Services, it makes them effective members of a Knowledge Community.

The Study Circle enrols candidates possessing the necessary potential to compete at the Civil Services Examination. It organizes them in the form of a fraternity striving to achieve the success in Civil Services Exam.

The needed potential consists of two parts : one relates to character and the other to administrative talent. No candidate is born with this potential but it is acquired over a period of time.

An explanation of this potential is very neatly summed up in the prospectus of UPSC under the sub-heading 'Interview-Test'.

He will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

Although the neat sum-up in the UPSC's prospectus is good, it is not exhaustive enough. Apart from the traits mentioned in the prospectus, it is required that the candidates to be cool and collected; understand the subject-matter of optionals and General Studies in a lively manner; write in a direct, logical and constructive manner; possess an optimistic, cheerful and lively disposition towards life and other things in general. The clarity of vision is the most important element in a positive personality.