prelims

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
1.Current events of national and international importance.
2.History of India and Indian National Movement.
3.Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India
and the World.
4.Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj,
Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5.Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty,
Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
6.General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change -
that do not require subject specialization.
7.General Science.

Paper II-(200 marks) Duration : Two hours

1.Comprehension;
2.Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
3.Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
4.Decision making and problem solving;
5.General mental ability;
6.Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
(Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc.
— Class X level);
 Mains

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 his 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) Précis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
Indian Languages:—
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Précis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

ESSAY
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.
 GENERAL STUDIES 1
General Studies-I : Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the
World and Society.
1.Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2.Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until
the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
3.The Freedom Struggle: its various stages and important
contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. Post-
independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
4.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.

5.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.
6.Effects of globalization on Indian society.
7.Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

8.Salient features of world’s physical geography. Distribution of key natural

resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector
industries in various parts of the world (including India).
9.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 2

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

and International relations.

1.Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features,

amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
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.
3.Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms
and institutions.
4.Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

5.Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of

business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
6.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.
7.Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
8.Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
9.Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
10.Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
11.Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs,
SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other stakeholders.
12.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.
13.Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
14.Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

15.Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-

governanceapplications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens
charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
16.Role of civil services in a democracy.

17.India and its neighborhood- relations.

18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India’s interests.
19.Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
20.Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure,
mandate.
 GENERAL STUDIES 3
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio
diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
1.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources,
growth, development and employment.
2.Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Government strives to have a
workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are
encouraged to apply.
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.
10.Investment models.
11.Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in
everyday life.
12.Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of
technology and developing new technology.
13.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology,
biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

14.Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental

impact assessment.
15.Disaster and disaster management.

16.Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

17.Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal
security.
18.Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of
media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of
cyber security; moneylaundering and its prevention.
19.Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of
organized crime with terrorism.
20.Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
 GENERAL STUDIES 4
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 :
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 Government strives to have a
workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are
encouraged to apply.
2.family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
3.Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought
and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
4.Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and
nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance
and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
5.Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance.
6.Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
7.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.
8.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.
9.Case Studies on above issues.
 OPTIONAL SUBJECT (ECONOMICS)
PAPER—I

1. Advanced Micro Economics :

(a) Marshallian and Varrasiam Approaches to Price determination.
(b) Alternative Distribution Theories; Ricardo, Kaldor, Kaleeki.
(c) Markets Structure : Monopolistic Competition, Duopoly, Oligopoly.
(d) Modern Welfare Criteria : Pareto Hicks and Scitovsky, Arrow’s Impossibility
Theorem, A. K. Sen’s Social Welfare Function.

2. Advance Macro Economics :

Approaches to Employment Income and Interest Rate determination:
Classical, Keynes (IS)-LM) curve, Neo-classical synthesis and New classical,
Theories of Interest Rate determination and Interest Rate Structure.

3. Money-Banking and Finance :

(a) Demand for and Supply of Money : Money Multiplier Quantity Theory of
Money (Fisher, Pique and Friedman) and Keyne’s Theory on Demand for
Money, Goals and Instruments of Monetary Management in Closed and Open
Economies. Relation between the Central Bank and the Treasury. Proposal for
ceiling on growth rate of money.
(b) Public Finance and its Role in market Economy : In stabilisation of supply,
allocative, of resources and in distribution and development. Sources of
Government revenue, forms of Taxes and Subsidies, their incidence and
effects. Limits to taxation, loans, crowding-out effects and limits to borrowings.
Public expenditure and its effects.
 4. International Economics :
(a) Old and New theories of International Trade.
(i) Comparative advantage,
(ii) Terms of Trade and Offer Curve.
(iii) Product Cycle and Strategic Trade Theories.
(iv) Trade as an engine of growth and theories of underdevelopment in
an open economy.
(b) Forms of Protection : Tariff and quota.
(c) Balance of Payments Adjustment : Alternative Approaches.
(i) Price versus income, income adjustments under fixed
exchange rates.
(ii) Theories of Policy Mix.
(iii) Exchange rate adjustments under capital mobility.
(iv) Floating Rates and their Implications for Developing Countries :
Currency Boards.
(v) Trade Policy and Developing Countries.
(vi) BOP, adjustments and Policy Coordination in open economy
macromodel.
(vii) Speculative attacks.
(viii) Trade Blocks and Monetary Unions.
(ix) WTO : TRIMS, TRIPS, Domestic Measures, Different Rounds of WTO
talks.
 5. Growth and Development :

(a) (i) Theories of growth : Harrod’s model;

(ii) Lewis model of development with surplus labour.
(iii) Balanced Unbalanced Growth.
(iv) Human Capitals and Economic Growth.
(v) Research and Development and Economic Growth.

(b) Process of Economic Development of less developed courtries : Myrdal

and Kuzments on economic development and structural change : Role of
Agriculture in Economic Development of less developed countries.

(c) Economic Development and International Trade and Investment, Role of

Multinationals.

(d) Planning and Economic Development : changing role of Markets and

Planning, Private-Public Partnership.

(e) Welfare indicators and measures of growth—Human Development

Indices. The basic needs approach.

(f) Development and Environmental Sustainability—Renewable and Non-

renewable Resources, Environmental Degradation, Intergenerational equity
development.
PAPER-II
Indian Economics in Post-Independence Era : Land System and its changes,
Commercialization of agriculture Drain theory, Laissez faire theory and critique.
Manufacture and Transport : Jute, Cotton, Railways, Money and Credit.
Indian Economy after Independence :
A. The Pre-Liberalization Era :
(i) Contribution of Vakil, Gadgil and V.K.R.V. Rao.
(ii) Agricultrure : Land Reforms and land tenure system, Green Revolution and
capital formation in agriculture.
(iii) Industry Trends in composition and growth, Role of public and private
sector, small scale and cottage industries.
(iv) National and Per capita income : Patterns, trends, aggregate and sectoral
composition and changes therein.
(v) Broad factors determining National Income and distribution, Measures of
poverty, Trends in poverty and inequality.

B. The Post-Liberalization Era :

(i) New Economic Reform and Agriculture : Agriculture and WTO, Food
processing, subsidies, Agricultural prices and public distribution system,
Impact of public expenditure on agricultural growth.
(ii) New Economic Policy and Industry : Strategy of industrialization,
Privatization, Disinvestments, Role of foreign direct investment and
multinationals.
(iii) New Economic Policy and Trade : Intellectual property rights : Implications of
TRIPS, TRIMS, GATS and new EXIM policy.
(iv) New Exchange Rate Regime : Partial and full convertibility, Capital account
convertibility.
(v) New Economic Policy and Public Finance : Fiscal Responsibility Act, Twelfth
Finance Commission and Fiscal Federalism and Fiscal Consolidation.
(vi) New Economic Policy and Monetary System. Role of RBI under the new
regime.
(vii) Planning : From central Planning to indivative planning, Relation between
planning and markets for growth and decentralized planning : 73rd and 74th
Constitutional amendments.
(viii) New Economic Policy and Employment : Employment and poverty, Rural
wages, Employment Generation, Poverty alleviation schemes, New Rural,
Employment Guarantee Scheme.