VVR - IAS Exam Preparation

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:

  • Preliminary Exam
  • Main Exam
  • Interview / Personality Test

The Eligibility Criteria for appearing in the IAS Examination is as follows:

(i)Nationality:

  1. For the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
  2. For other services, a Candidate must be either:
    • A citizen of India, or
    • a subject of Nepal, or
    • a subject of Bhutan, or
    • a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India. or
    • 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 established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University Under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification.

Note I: Candidates who have appeared at an examination the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination. All candidates who are declared qualified by the commission for taking the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination.

Note II: In exceptional cases the Union Public Service Commission may treat a candidate who has not any of the foregoing qualifications as qualified candidate provided that he has passed examination conducted by the other Institutions, the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission justifies his admission to the examination.

Note III: Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications, which are recognized by the Government, as equivalent to professional and technical degree would also be eligible for admission to the examination.

Note IV: Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S or any other Medical Examination but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Examination provided they submit along with their application a copy of certificate from the concerned authority of the University / Institution that have passed the requisite final professional medical examination. In such cases, the candidates will be required to produce at the time of their interview original Degree or a certificate from the concerned competent authority of the University/ Institution that they had completed all requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the degree.

(iii) Age limit:

21 yeas must be completed on 1st August of the year, in which a candidate is appearing. Maximum 30 for general category, 33 for OBCs and 35 for SCs/ STs. Ex - servicemen will get 5 more years exemption from the prescribed age limit.

(The date of birth accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognized by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate).

(iv) Number of Attempts:

Four attempts for General, Seven for OBCs and No Limit for SCs/STs. If a person appears in the Preliminary Examination or even in one paper counted as an attempt.

(v) Restrictions on applying for the examination:

A candidate who is appointed to the Indian Administrative Service or the Indian Foreign Service on the results of an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that Service will not be eligible to appear in this examination.

About Preliminary Examination

Conducted in May / June every year, Preliminary examination is an objective type screening test consisting of two papers. The detailed Syllabus and guidelines of which is mentioned below. The basic idea of this elimination round is to screen candidates who possess in depth knowledge as well as sound logical aptitude and score stipulated marks & hence found eligible for appearing in the Mains examination.

About Mains examination

The purpose of the Mains examination is to judge a candidate’s descriptive but the ability to express his knowledge in a creative and to the point manner. The Mains examination has the following examination pattern.

IAS Mains Examination Pattern

Civil Services Main Examination Papers

Paper-I
Section 1 Essay 200 Marks
Section 2 English Comprehension & English Précis 100 Marks
(Of Matriculation/ Xth standard level)
 
Paper-II
General Studies–I 250Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)  
 
Paper-III
General Studies –II 250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and
International relations) 		 
   
Paper-IV
General Studies –III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development,
Bio-diversity, Environment, Security
and Disaster Management)		  
   
Paper-V
General Studies –IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)  
   
Paper-VI  
Optional Subject – Paper 1 250 Marks
   
Paper-VII  
Optional Subject – Paper 2 250 Marks
Sub Total (Written test) 1800 Marks
Personality Test 275 Marks.
Grand Total 2075 Marks

Total Marks used in Ranking

  • Written examination:  2000 Points
  • Interview: 300 Points
  • Total Points for Ranking:  2300 Points

Optional Subjects for the Main Examination - Optional subjects: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany , Chemistry, Civil Engineering , Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology, Each paper is of 3 hours duration.

Literature Subjects: Arabic, Assamese ,Bengali, Chinese, English, Fench, German, Gujarati , Hindi , Kannada , Kashmiri , Konkani , Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri , Nepali ,Oriya, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Sindhi,Tamil, Telugu, Urdu.

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

  • Current events of national and international importance
  • History of India and Indian National Movement
  • Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • ographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
  • General Science.

Paper II- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours

  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability
  • Decision making and problem solving
  • General mental ability
  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. -Class X level)
  • English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).

CSE Main General Studies Exam Syllabus

  • 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 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.
  • 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.

  • Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
  • Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
  • The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
  • 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.
  • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
  • Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  • Salient features of world’s physical geography.
  • 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)
  • 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 :

  • Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
  • 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.
  • Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
  • Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
  • Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
  • 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 Polity.
  • Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
  • Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
  • Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
  • Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
  • Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
  • 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 sections.
  • Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
  • Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
  • Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
  • Role of civil services in a democracy.
  • India and its neighborhood- relations.
  • Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
  • Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
  • 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 employment.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Government Budgeting.
  • 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 farmers
  • 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 management.
  • Land reforms in India.
  • Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
  • Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
  • Investment models.
  • Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
  • Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  • Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
  • Disaster and disaster management.
  • Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
  • Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  • 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 prevention
  • Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
  • Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

PAPER - V

General Studies- IV :

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

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 society. 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 relationships. 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 persuasion.
  • Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weakersections.
  • Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
  • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
  • 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 governance.
  • 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 corruption.
  • Case Studies on above issues.

PAPER - VI & PAPER - VII

Optional Subject Papers I & II

Candidates may choose any optional subject from amongst the list of subjects given in para 2 (Group 1). However, if a candidate has graduated in any of the literatures of languages indicated in Group-2 , with the literature as the main subject, then the candidate can also opt for that particular literature subject as an optional subject according to notification CSE - 2013.

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.

  1. (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)

    1. NCERT-Modern India.
    2. Yashpal and Grover-Modern India.
    3. Bipan Chandra

    (For Mains)

    1. NCERT-Modern India.
    2. Yashpal and Grover-Modern India.
    3. Indian culture by spectrum.
    4. Bipan Chandra
  2. (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)

    1. Goh cheng leong
    2. NCERT Geography- class XI and XII
    3. Any atlas of latest edition.
    4. Following chapters from India:- Land and the people, energy, transport, industry etc.
    5. Following chapters of Economic Survey:- Industry, communication.
    6. The Hindu.
  3. (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

    1. D.D BASU/ Subhash Kashyap/ B K sharma.
    2. One daily newspaper:- The Hindu,
    3. Any good monthly magazine.
  4. (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.
    • 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: