Annexure I

PRELIMS
Paper I

General Studies
Books/Reference

History of India

TMH History, NCERT Class XI,XII

Indian National Movement

TMH INM portion,

Spectrum A Brief History of Modern India.

Indian Culture

Newspaper, Spectrum Indian Culture (Heavily loaded with

facts), Nitin Singhaniya Culture notes.

Indian Geography

Atlas, NCERT Class XI, XII

World Geography

Atlas, GC Leong,

Indian Polity

Laxmikant,

General Science

Regular Newspaper, basic science knowledge, internet

Economic and Social

Development

Ramesh Singh,
Sanjiv Verma,
Budget, Economic Survey

General issues on
Environmental Ecology,
Bio-Diversity and Climate
Change

Regular Newspaper, Shankars Environment, MOE website,

internet,

Paper II

CSAT

CSAT Syllabus

I read the Arihant Cracking the CSAT (Paper 2), but any

standard book will suffice.

Annexure II
MAINS
Books

Remarks

Compulsory Language I

Uniques General English

or any other standard book
may suffice

Regular newspaper may

suffice but little practice
regarding grammar portion
can fetch you 50 Marks in
grammar section.

Uniques General Hindi or

any other standard book
may suffice

-Do-

No special book

Keep on reading GS,

additional resources,
newspaper, magazines to get
fodder material.

(English)
(2013 144)

Compulsory Language II
(Hindi)
(2013 152)

Paper I
(Essay)
(2015 144, 2013 -85)

Practice four-five before the

exam.

Annexure III
(Sources are mentioned in B, I, U)
PAPER-II (2015 85, 2013 54)

General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the
World and Society.

HISTORY

1.

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times. Spectrum Indian Culture, Nitin
Singhaniya, IAS Notes.

2.

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until
the present- significant events, personalities, issues Spectrum A Brief
History of Modern India.

3.

The Freedom Struggle its various stages and important contributors

/contributions from different parts of the country.- Spectrum A Brief History
of Modern India, TMH-Indian Freedom Struggle, Newspaper recent
important events e.g. centenary celebrations etc.

4.

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

Go through the internet related to events that happened after
independence, R Guha India after Independence

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. NCERT History book on World
History,

SOCIOLOGY
(My optional, for others newspaper, internet research, sociology NCERT
class xi, xii)

6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

6. Role of women and womens organization, population and associated issues,
poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their
remedies.
6. Effects of globalization on Indian society
6. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

GEOGRAPHY

10.
10.

Salient features of worlds physical geography. GC Leong, NCERT

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)- mrunal.org website
10.

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami,

Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their locationchanges in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps)
and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.-GC Leong, GK
Today Geography

PAPER-III (2015 91, 2013 53)

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and

International relations.

POLITY

1.

Indian

Constitution-

historical

underpinnings,

evolution,

amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Laxmikant

features,

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. Laxmikant

3.

Separation

of

powers

between

various

organs

dispute

redressal

mechanisms and institutions. Laxmikant

4.

Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other

countries. Laxmikant

5.

Parliament and State Legislatures structure, functioning, conduct of

business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. Laxmikant

6.

Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Ministries and Departments of the Government; Laxmikant

Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.Was part of Sociology, for other Laxmikant
7. Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act. Internet
7. Appointment

to

various

Constitutional

posts,

powers,

functions

and

responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.-Laxmikant

7. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies-Internet
7. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.-PIB, India Year Book
7. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs,
SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other stakeholders.-Was part of Sociology, for other Laxmikant

7. 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.-PIB, India Year Book
7. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. India Year Book, PIB
7. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.-Was part of Sociology, for others
newspaper
7. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, egovernance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
measures. .-Ethics Paper,ARC
7. Role of civil services in a democracy.-Ethics Paper, ARC

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
(Newspaper and current affairs magazine, MEA website, some historically
important incidents will be covered in the History part of GS Paper-I)

17.

India and its neighbourhood- relations.

17.

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India

and/or affecting Indias Interests

17.

Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on

Indias interests, Indian Diaspora.

17.

Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure,

mandate.-Internet

PAPER-IV (2015 103, 2013 72)

General

Studies-III:

Technology,

Economic

Development,

Bio

diversity,

Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

ECONOMY
(Ramesh Singh, Sanjay Verma, Mrunal website for additional study)

1.

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources,

growth, development and employment.

2.

Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

3.

Government Budgeting.

4.

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

5.

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.

6.

Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance,

location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

7.

Land reforms in India.

8.

Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and

their effects on industrial growth.

9.

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.-PIB, India

Year Book

10.

Investment models.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

(Newspaper along with basic scientific knowledge)
11.

Science and Technology- developments and their applications and

effects in everyday life

11.

Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of

technology and developing new technology.

11.

Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-

technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

ENVIRONMENT
(Newspaper, Shankars Environment)

14.

Conservation,

environmental

pollution

and

degradation,

environmental impact assessment

14.

Disaster and disaster management. NDMA website

INTERNAL SECURITY
(Newspaper, India Year Book)

16.

Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

16.

Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to

internal security.
16.

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
16.

Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of

organized crime with terrorism

16.

Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

PAPER-V (2015 96, 2013 96, Consistent ethical standards,J)

(Personal take analyse every situation you come across in your day to
day life, be empathetic, observe, try to think from various angles,
perspectives, you may have your own views but analyse why others views
are different and whats the basis of those viewpoints, most importantly be
objective and ethical)

(In 2013 my study was internet based, in 2015 additionally i referred a book
by Reddy and Ajmera, Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

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.

1.

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.

2.

Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought
and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

3.

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.

4.

Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in

administration and governance.

5.

Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

6.

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.

7.

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.
8. Case Studies on above issues.-(Practice some case studies before
exam)

Note: There is no short cut! Dont have an impression that there will be a
book/notes which will exactly provide the topics and mugging up that utopian
book you can sail through this exam. You have to have elaborate knowledge to

write exactly what is asked for in UPSC mains exam. So rather than trying to find
run-of the-mill notes or gist or any easy solution and lose your time and money I
would suggest the future aspirants to be firm and study the topics elaborately to
clearly understand the concepts and build their analytical skills.