Syllabus

Part B—Main Examination

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and  depth  of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.

The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II  to  Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized  study.  The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the  candidate’s  basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree 1evel i.e. a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than the masters’ degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

Syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows :—

QUALIFYING PAPERS ON INDIAN LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH

The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand  serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned.

The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :

• Comprehension of given
• Precis
• Usage and
• Short

Indian Languages :—

• comprehension of given
• Precis
• Usage and
• Short
• Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

Note 1 : The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

Note 2 : The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).

PAPER-I

Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays  on  multiple  topics.  They  will  be  expected  to  keep closely to the subject of the essay  to  arrange  their ideas  in  orderly  fashion, and  to write  concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

PAPER-II

General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities,
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism — their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their
• Effects of globalization on Indian
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
• Salient features of world’s physical
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub- continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone , geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

PAPER-III

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polit.

• Salient features of the Representation of People’s
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human
• Issues relating to poverty and
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance• applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
• Role of civil services in a
• India and its neighborhood-
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

PAPER-IV

General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government
• Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
• Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain
• Land reforms in
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
• Investment
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio•technology and issues relating to intellectual property
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact
• Disaster and disaster
• Linkages between development and spread of
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money•laundering and its
• Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

PAPER-V

• This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered :
• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non•partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of
• Case Studies on above