Syllabus

PRELIMS SYLLABUS

Paper I - General Studies Paper I

• 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
• Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
• Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialisation
• General Science

Paper II - General Studies Paper II:

CSAT: Civil Services Aptitude Test

• 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)

Main Exam Syllabus

Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursiveprose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language.

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: -

• comprehension of given passages.
• Precis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.
• 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 standardand 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 Language papers in English andthe 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 close tothe subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit willbe given for effective and exact expression.

Paper II - General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of

the World and the Society

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture fromancient 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 importantcontributors/contributions fromdifferent parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.
• History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution,world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonization, politicalphilosophies 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 organisation, population and associated issues, poverty anddevelopmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and theirremedies.
• Effects of globalisation on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of the world's physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indiansub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sectorindustries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones.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

• Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significantprovisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertainingto the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challengestherein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms andinstitutions.
• 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, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries andDepartments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations andtheir role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities ofvarious Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arisingout of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, variousgroups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and theperformance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted forthe 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 neighbourhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affectingIndia’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, Biodiversity,

Environment, Security and Disaster Management

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, 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 irrigationand irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issuesand 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 stocksand food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstreamand downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects onindustrial 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 anddeveloping new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technologyand 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 socialnetworking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-launderingand its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime withterrorism.
• 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 tointegrity, probity in public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts facedby him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine theseaspects. The following broad areas will be covered:

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-humanactions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values –lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role offamily 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 andcompassion towards the weaker sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration andgovernance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethicalconcerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations andconscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance;strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in internationalrelations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance andprobity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes ofEthics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery,Utilisation of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on the above issues.