Civil Services Mains 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.
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)
Topic 1: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of
Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Topic 2: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the
eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities,
issues.
Topic 3: The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and
important contributors/ contributions from different parts of the
country.
Topic 4: Post-independence consolidation and reorganization
within the country.
Topic 5: 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.
Topic 6: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of
India.
Topic 7: Role of women and women’s organization, population
and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization,
their problems and their remedies.
Topic 8: Effects of globalization on Indian society
Topic 9: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
secularism.
Topic 10: Salient features of world’s physical
geography.
Topic 11: 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).
Topic 12: 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
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
Topic 1: Indian
Constitution- historical under pinning, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure
Topic 2: 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.
Topic 3: Separation of powers between various organs dispute
redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Topic 4: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with
that of other countries.
Topic 5: 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.
Topic 6: Parliament and State Legislatures - structure,
functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues
arising out of these.
Topic 7: Salient features of the Representation of People’s
Act.
Topic 8: Appointment to various Constitutional posts,
powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Topic 9: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial
bodies.
Topic 10: Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and
implementation.
Topic 11: 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.
Topic 12: Development processes and the development industry-
the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors,
charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Topic 13: Issues relating to development and management of
Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.
Topic 14: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Topic 15: Important aspects of governance, transparency and
accountability, e governance- applications, models, successes,
limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
Topic 16: Role of civil services in a democracy.
Topic 17: India and its neighborhood- relations.
Topic 18: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Topic 19: Effect of policies and politics of developed and
developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Topic 20: Important International institutions, agencies and
fora- their structure, mandate.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
Topic 1: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning,
mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Topic 2: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Topic 3: 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.
Topic 4: 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.
Topic 5: Food processing and related industries in India- scope
and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain
management.
Topic 6: Land reforms in
India.
Topic 7: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in
industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Topic 8: Government Budgeting.
Topic 9: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
etc.
Topic 10: Investment models.
Topic 11: Science and Technology- developments and their
applications and effects in everyday life
Topic 12: Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Topic 13: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,
robotics, nano-technology, bio- technology.
Topic 14: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,
environmental impact assessment.
Topic 15: Disaster and disaster management.
Topic 16: Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Topic 17: Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Topic 18: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating
challenges to internal security.
Topic 19: 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.
Topic 20: Security challenges and their management in border areas;
linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Topic 21: 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.
Topic: 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.
Topic: 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.
