SYLLABUS FOR GENERAL STUDIES
PRELIMINARY
EXAMINATION
The Examination shall comprise two compulsory papers of 200 marks each.
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.
• Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change -
that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.
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 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 bachelor’s 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 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 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 behavior; 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 weaker sections.
• 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.
Paradigm IAS Academy,1202/15, flat no -1, Shivaji Nagar Pune,Maharashtra 411004Mob no. – 07028470894
