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 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 :

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:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
Indian Languages:
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) 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 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 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 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.

 C. Interview/Personality Test

The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of

the candidate’s career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general

interest. The object of the Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal

suitability of the candidate for a career in public service

by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The Interview/Personality Test is

intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an

assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and 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.

2. The technique of the Interview/Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-

examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is

intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

3. The Interview/Personality Test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized

or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their

written papers. 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.