Preliminary Examination |
Paper I | Paper II |
General Science | Comprehension |
Current events of national and international importance | General mental ability |
Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social, Economic | Logical reasoning and analytical ability |
Indian Polity and Governance- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. | Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. — Class X level) |
General issues on Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change (these topics do not require subject specialization) | Data interpretation (Charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. — Class X level) |
Economic and Social Development- Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. | Decision-making and problem-solving |
History of India and the Indian National Movement | Interpersonal skills including communication skills |
Main Examination |
General Studies I | General Studies II | General Studies III | General Studies IV |
Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to modern times. | Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure | Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment. | Ethics and Human Interface- Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships |
Modern Indian history includes significant events, personalities, and issues from the middle of the eighteenth century until the present | Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges about the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels, and challenges therein | Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. | Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; the role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values |
Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’ | Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries | Government Budgeting. | Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion |
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country | Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions | Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. | 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 |
History of the world includes events, forms, and effects on society from the 18th century like world wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redrawing of national boundaries, decolonization, and political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc. | Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these | 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 | Emotional intelligence concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance |
Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society | Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies | Economics of animal-rearing. | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world |
Role of women and women’s organizations, population and associated issues, poverty, and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and remedies | 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 | Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. | 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 |
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism | Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act | 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 | 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 |
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 | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation | Land reforms in India. | – |
Effects of globalization on Indian society | Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies | Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial growth. | – |
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 flora and fauna and the effects of such changes | 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 | Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc. | – |
Salient features of the world’s physical geography. | Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders | Investment models. | – |
– | Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources | Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science and technology; | – |
– | Important aspects of governance, transparency, and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures | Indigenization of technology and developing new technology. | – |
– | Issues relating to poverty and hunger | Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation, environmental impact assessment | – |
– | Role of civil services in a democracy | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights. | – |
– | Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests | Disaster and disaster management. | – |
– | India and its neighborhood- relations | Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. | – |
– | Important International institutions, agencies, and fora, their structure, mandate | Linkages between development and spread of extremism. | – |
– | Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora | Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money laundering and its prevention | – |
– | – | Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate | – |
– | – | Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism | – |
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