About IAS Examination:
The Civil Services Examination is conducted by Union Public Service Commission
Every year for appointing eligible Candidates into elite class Services of IAS,
IPS and Group 'A' and Group 'B' allied Services.
This examination has three stages namely:
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Preliminary Exam
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Main Exam
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Interview / Personality Test
The Eligibility Criteria for appearing in the IAS
Examination is as follows:
(i)Nationality:
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For the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, a
candidate must be a citizen of India.
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For other services, a Candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India, or
- a subject of Nepal, or
- a subject of Bhutan, or
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a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the
intention of permanently settling in India. or
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a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, SriLanka ,
East African countries of Kenya, Uganda , the United Republic of Tanzania,
Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of Permanently
settling in India.
Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be
a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the
Government of India. Provided further that candidates belonging to categories
(b), (c) and (d) above will not be eligible for appointment to the Indian
Foreign Service.
A candidate, in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary, may be
admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after
the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to him by the Government
of India.
(ii) Minimum Educational Qualifications:
The candidate must hold a degree of any University incorporated by an Act of the
Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions
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IAS Mains Examination Pattern
Civil Services Main Examination Papers
Paper-I
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Section 1 Essay
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200 Marks
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Section 2 English Comprehension
& English Practice
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100 Marks
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(Of Matriculation/ Xth standard
level)
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|
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Paper-II
|
General Studies -I
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250Marks
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(Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World
and Society)
|
|
|
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About IAS Interview / Personality Test:
The main idea behind
taking the personality test of a Candidate to assess the overall personality of
the candidate rather than grilling him or checking his subject knowledge. Since
it is said that a civil servant has to be a “Jack of all but Master of none. So
the same instinct is expected here from a candidate by the interview board.
So the best possible way of facing this stage confidently and successfully is to
keep working out on overall aspect of your personality enhancement, whether by
getting knowledge, by active social participation, useful group discussion on
various important issues etc. Also sound advice and honest feedback from
teachers and seniors would be of great help in making ones dream a success.
CSE PT General Studies Exam Syllabus
Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
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Current events of national and international importance
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History of India and Indian National Movement
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Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
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Indian Polity and Governance & Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
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ographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
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General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
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General Science.
Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
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Comprehension
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Interpersonal skills including communication skills
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Logical reasoning and analytical ability
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Decision making and problem solving
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General mental ability
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Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class
X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc.
-Class X level)
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English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
CSE Main General Studies Exam Syllabus
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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.
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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.
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The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.
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The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is
broadly of the honours degree level 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.
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Syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows:-
PAPER - I
Essay:
Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given.
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.
English Comprehension & English Precis will be to test the English language Comprehension and English
précis writing skills (at 10th standard level).
PAPER - II
General Studies- I:
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
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Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
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Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
events, personalities, issues
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The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country.
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Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
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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 etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
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Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
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Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
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Effects of globalization on Indian society
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Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
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Salient features of world’s physical geography.
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Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
various parts of the world (including India)
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Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
PAPER - III
General Studies- II :
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Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
and basic structure.
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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 therein.
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Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
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Preparation Strategies for General Studies & CSAT
Dear aspirants,
This section is aimed at providing you with an integrated approach for the
preparation of General Studies papers I , II, III and IV plus for Prelims. One might wonder,
why integrated approach? Why not factual prelims first and descriptive Mains
after that?
The answer of this question is, nowadays, and even earlier, the major part of
the syllabus of Prelims has always been emanating from the syllabus of Mains. So
a student who prepares separately the G.S. paper of Prelims and Mains, ends up
making his knowledge weak in both the context, i.e. Prelims and Mains and thus,
has a very little chance of getting good marks in G.S. paper of Prelims and
Mains both.
So, in order to develop a holistic approach for scoring good marks in G.S.
Prelims and Mains both, we are providing section wise strategy and guideline to
ensure a comprehensive preparation of Prelims and Mains. The syllabus of Prelims
and Mains is presented here in a different way just to develop the integrated
approach in the students during their course of preparation. Because it is not
only the hard work but the smart & hard work which ensures your selection.
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(a) History of India and Indian national movement. (Prelims), (b) History of Modern India and Indian culture (Mains)
In both these sections of Prelims and Mains, the major section which needs to be covered thoroughly is Modern India. Starting from 1857 till 1964. And for the Indian culture part of the Mains. Only the cultural section starting from Ancient India till Modern India needs to be covered.
References Books
(For Prelims)
- NCERT-Modern India.
- Yashpal and Grover-Modern India.
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Bipan Chandra
(For Mains)
- NCERT-Modern India.
- Yashpal and Grover-Modern India.
- Indian culture by spectrum.
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Bipan Chandra
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(a) Indian and world Geography-Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world. (Prelims), (b) Geography of India. - (Mains)
In both Prelims and Mains, nowadays the focus has been shifted towards social, economic and physical geography. So the references for the same would be as follows:-
References Books
(For Prelims)
- Goh cheng leong
- NCERT Geography- class XI and XII
- Any atlas of latest edition.
- Following chapters from India:- Land and the people, energy, transport, industry etc.
- Following chapters of Economic Survey:- Industry, communication.
- The Hindu.
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(a) Indian polity and governance- Constitution, Political system, Panchayati Raj. Public policy. Right and issues etc. (Prelims), (b) Constitution of Indian and Indian polity: - (Mains)
In both Prelims and Mains, Questions are being asked from the Parliament, current political administrative system, local self government, fundamental rights and duties, and most importantly their applied part.
References Books
- D.D BASU/ Subhash Kashyap/ B K sharma.
- One daily newspaper:- The Hindu,
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Any good monthly magazine.
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(a) Economic and social development-sustainable development, poverty inclusion, demographics, social sector initiative etc. ( Prelims), (b) Current National Issues and Topics of social Relevance ( Mains). This part is intended to test the candidate’s awareness of current national issues and topics of social relevance in present day India, such as the following:
- The Indian economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
- Issues arising from the social and economic exclusion of large section from the benefits for development.
- Other issues relating to the development and management of human resources.
- Health issues including the management of Public Health, Health education and ethical concerns regarding health-care, medical research and pharmaceuticals.
- Law enforcement, internal security and related issues such as the preservation of communal harmony.
- Issues relating to good governance and accountability to the citizens including the maintenance of human right, and of probity in public life.
- Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national heritage.
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Kindly note that this section is one of the most important sections of both, i.e. Prelims and Mains. Because it has its roots in almost on every section of the syllabus. Whether it is Economy, Geography, Science & Tech, Polity, Health, Education, Welfare, Environment, Current Affairs and traditional part everywhere. So, this section requires a very careful and elaborated form of study.
References for both Prelims and Mains are:
Following chapters of economic survey and India Year Book in sync with THE Hindu, Yojana, any good monthly magazine: