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 & standard of questions in the GS papers (Paper II to 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 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 analyse, and take a view on confliicting socio-economical goals, objectives and demands.
• Type of Answers: The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and sucfficinct(brief) answers.
The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI & VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level i.e. a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than masters’ degree. In case of engineering, medical science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

Syllabus of Language Papers

Qualifying papers on Indian Languages & English: Aim is to test candidates’ ability to read & understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English & Indian language concerned.

Syllabus of English Language
i. Comprehension of given passages.
ii. Precis Writing.
iii. Usage & vocabulary.
iv. Short Essays.

Syllabus of Indian language paper:
i. Comprehension of given passages.
ii. Precis writing
iii. Usage and Vocabulary
iv. Short Essays
v. Translation from English to Indian Language & Vice-versa.
The papers on Indian Languages & English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be qualifying in natures only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian languages papers in English & the respective Indian language(except where translation is involved).

Essay Paper ( PAPER-1 )

• Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. These topics can be philosophical as well as Technical.
• 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 – I (Paper II)

Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
1. Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature & Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th 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.
4. Post-Independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revoluton, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization,
6. Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. – their forms and effect on the society.
7. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
8. Role of women and women’s organization,
9. Population and associated issues.
10.Poverty and developmental issues,
11.Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
12.Effects of globalization on Indian society.
13.Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and Secularism
14.Salient features of world’s physical geography.
15.Distribution of Key natural resources across the world (including South Asia & Indian sub-continent);
• factors responsible for location of primary, secondary and ternary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
16.Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic
activity, Cyclone etc.,
• geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical
features (including water-bodies & ice caps) and in flora and fauna and
the effects of such changes

General Studies – II (Paper III)

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations
1. Indian constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
2. Functions & responsibilities of the Union & the States,
i. Issues & challenges pertaining to the federal structure,
ii. Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
3. Separation of powers b/w various organs dispute redressal mechanisms & 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 & Functioning of Executive & Judiciary – M/o & D/o the govt.;
7. Pressure groups & formal/informal associations and their role in the polity.
8. Salient features of Representation of People’s Act.
9. Appointment to various constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various constitutional bodies.
10.Statutory, regulatory and various Quasi-Judicial bodies.
11.Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre
and States and the performance of these schemes;
12.Mechanisms, laws, insitututions and Bodies constuted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
13.Issues relati ng to the development and management of social sector/services relating to Health, Education, resources.
14.Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
15.Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design & implementation.
16.Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
17.Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance – applications, models, successes, limitations and potential;
18.citizens charter, transparency & accountability and instutional and other measures.
19.Role of Civil Services in a democracy.
20.India and its neighbourhood – relations.
21.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India &/or affecting India’s interests.
22.Effect of policies and policies of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

General Studies – III (Paper IV)

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
3. Government Budgeting.
4. Major crops – cropping patterns in the various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
5. storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
6. Issues related to Direct & indirect farm subsidies & MSP;
7. PDS – objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
8. Technology missions; Economies of Animal –
9. Food processing and related industries in India – scope and significance, location , upstream & downstream requirements, supply chain
10. Land reforms in
11. Effects of liberalization on the economy,
12. Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
13. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railway
14. Investment
15. Science & Technology: development & their applications & effects in everyday

• Achievements of    Indian    S&T; indigenization     of    technology        and developing new
• Awareness in the fields of IT, space, computers, robotics, nano- technology,
• Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual property Rights(IPR).

16.  Conservations, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

17. Disaster and disaster management.
18. Linkages b/w development & spread of extremism.
19. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal Security.
20. 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 preservations.
21. Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of
22. organized crime with terrorism.

General Studies – IV (Paper V)

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

The 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 the 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 & public
  • Human values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
  • Roles of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating
• Attitude: content, structure, function;
  • Its influence and relation with thought and
  • Moral and political attitudes;
  • Social influence and
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil services, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker
• Emotional intelligence – concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and
• Contributions of moral thinkers & Philosophers from India &
• Public/Civil service values in Ethics & Public administration: Status & problems;
  • Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private
  • 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
• Probity in Governance:
  • Concept of public service;
  • Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
  • Information sharing & transparency in government, Right to information,
  • Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charter,
  • Work Culture, Quality of Service delivery,
  • Utilization of public funds, Challenges of
• Case studies on above issues.