Structure and Plan of Civil Services Examination

MAINS EXAMINATION
Paper1
English Essay - 250 Marks
Paper - II
Hindi Language -300 Marks: This paper is of qualifying nature

Paper - III
English -300 Marks: This paper is of qualifying nature


Paper-IV: General Studies-I 250 Marks
Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World & Society
Paper-V: General Studies II 250 Marks
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

Paper-VI: General Studies -III 250 Marks
Technology, Eco. Develop, Bio-diversity, Envior, Security & Disaster Mgmt

Paper-VII: General Studies -IV 250 Marks
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Marks carried by General Studies was 4X 250=1000

Paper-VIII & IX: Political Science and International Relations
Optional Subject - Paper 1 -250 Marks
Optional Subject - Paper II -250 Marks


Interview/Personality Test - 275 marks

Grand Total 2025 Marks

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION








Paper I: General Studies 200 Marks 2 hours

Paper II: Aptitude Test 200 Marks 2 hours

Total Score of Preliminary Examination: 400 Marks

MAIN EXAMINATION: GENERAL STUDIES
For Detailed Preliminary Syllabus: http://upscportal.com/civilservices/pages/ias-pre
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
American Revolution
French Revolution
Napoleon
Civil war against slavery
Unification of Italy
Unification of Germany
Imperialism
Nazism
Fascism
Russian Revolution
Bi Polar World and Cold War
Disintegration of USSR
Uni Polar World
Chinese revolution
Japan Revolution
Other wars and events

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Role of women and womens 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 worlds 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



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 Peoples 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 Indias interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
Indias interests, Indian Diaspora
Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure,
mandate



















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





















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 utilize 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,
Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption
Case Studies on above issues




Political Science and International Relations


PAPER - I
Political Theory and Indian Politics:
1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches
2. Theories of the State: Liberal, Neoliberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-
colonial and feminist
3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawls theory of
justice and its communitarian critiques
4. Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality
and freedom; Affirmative action
5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of
Human Rights
6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of
democracy representative, participatory and deliberative
7. Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy
8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism
and Feminism
9. Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist
traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R.
Ambedkar, M.N. Roy
10. Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke,
John S. Mill, Marx, Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.







Indian Government and Politics:
1. Indian Nationalism:
Political Strategies of Indias Freedom Struggle: Constitutionalism to mass
Satyagraha, Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience; Militant and
revolutionary movements, Peasant and workers movements.
Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and Marxist;
Radical humanist and Dalit.

2. Making of the Indian Constitution:
Legacies of the British rule; different social and political perspectives

3. Salient Features of the Indian Constitution:
The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles;
Parliamentary System and Amendment procedures; Judicial Review and
Basic Structure doctrine
4. (a) Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and
actual working of the Executive, Legislature and Supreme Court
(b) Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual
working of the Executive, Legislature and High Courts
5. Grassroots Democracy:
Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; significance of 73rd and 74th
Amendments; Grassroots movements
6. Statutory Institutions/Commissions:
Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, Finance
Commission, Union Public Service Commission, National Commission for
Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National
Commission for Women; National Human Rights Commission, National
Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes Commission
7. Federalism:
Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations;
integrationist tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
8. Planning and Economic Development:
Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; role of planning and public sector;
Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalilzation and
economic reforms
9. Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics
10. Party System:
National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of
parties; patterns of coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral
behavior; changing socio- economic profile of Legislators
11. Social Movements:
Civil liberties and human rights movements; womens movements;
environmentalist movements



















PAPER II
Comparative Politics and International Relations Comparative
Political Analysis and International
Politics:
1. Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; political economy
and political sociology perspectives; limitations of the comparative method
2. State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature
of the State in capitalist and socialist economies, and, advanced industrial
and developing societies
3. Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure
groups and social movements in advanced industrial and developing
societies
4. Globalization: Responses from developed and developing societies
5. Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist,
Marxist, Functionalist and Systems theory
6. Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and
power; Balance of power and deterrence; Transnational actors and
collective security; World capitalist economy and globalization
7. Changing International Political Order:
Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race
and Cold War; nuclear threat;
Non-aligned movement: Aims and achievements;
Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony;
relevance of non-alignment in the contemporary world.
8. Evolution of the International Economic System: From Brettonwoods to
WTO; Socialist economies and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic
Assistance); Third World demand for new international economic order;
Globalisation of the world economy.
9. United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN
agencies-aims and functioning; need for UN reforms.
10. Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA.


11. Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights,
environment, gender justice, terrorism, nuclear proliferation. India and the
World:
1. Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of
policy-making; continuity and change.
2. Indias Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases;
current role.
3. India and South Asia:
Regional Co-operation: SAARC past performance & future prospects
South Asia as a Free Trade Area
Indias Look East policy
Impediments to regional co-operation: river water disputes; illegal cross-
border migration; ethnic conflicts and insurgencies; border disputes
4. India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America;
leadership role in the demand for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
5. India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and
Russia.
6. India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for
Permanent Seat in the Security Council
7. India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy
8. Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: Indias position on the
recent crisis in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US
and Israel; vision of a new world order