Where Passion Meets Education
Information and Knowledge act as Catalyst for Growth and Development!
Where Passion Meets Education
Information and Knowledge act as Catalyst for Growth and Development!
TWO PAPERS OF CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
PAPER - I and PAPER - II
PAPER - I PRELIMS
PAPER - II PRELIMS
PAPER - II PRELIMS
It is on General Studies and it is for 200 marks, and it contains 100 multiple choice questions. Subject to one getting minimum prescribed qualifying marks in Paper II in aptitude test, screening in Prelims for eligibility to write Main exam is based on performance in Paper I. There is negative marking in it, and also in Paper II. There
It is on General Studies and it is for 200 marks, and it contains 100 multiple choice questions. Subject to one getting minimum prescribed qualifying marks in Paper II in aptitude test, screening in Prelims for eligibility to write Main exam is based on performance in Paper I. There is negative marking in it, and also in Paper II. There is a deduction of 1/3rd of marks allocated to each question, for answering a question wrong. One needs to make fundamentals strong in different segments, pay attention to relevant factual information as well, update and follow current events, and practice relevant questions.
PAPER - II PRELIMS
PAPER - II PRELIMS
PAPER - II PRELIMS
It is on aptitude test, and it has minimum qualifying marks, if one does not qualifyin it then despite a good performance in Paper I one cannot get through Prelims. Based on a look and analysis of recent exam trends, it is clear that it requires a fair degree of preperation. Not only there is subjectivity in some questions, even there are
It is on aptitude test, and it has minimum qualifying marks, if one does not qualifyin it then despite a good performance in Paper I one cannot get through Prelims. Based on a look and analysis of recent exam trends, it is clear that it requires a fair degree of preperation. Not only there is subjectivity in some questions, even there are efforts by the recruiting body to improve standard of questions year-after-year. Looking at importance of its different segments as per exam trends, and one’s weaknesses and strengths, one may strategise preperation. It is for 200 marks, and it contains 80 questions.
DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF PAPER-I OF PRELIMS ON GENERAL STUDIES
CURRENT EVENTS
CURRENT EVENTS
CURRENT EVENTS
Current events of national and international importance are significant as not only there are direct questions on them, there are also questions on current inspired issues in different segments.
History
CURRENT EVENTS
CURRENT EVENTS
This part is primarily on Indian History and there are questions on ancient, medieval, modern history and freedom struggle, art, architecture, historical movements, era and rulers, etc.
Geography
CURRENT EVENTS
Geography
This part includes geography of India and world, and there are questions on physical geograpgy, human/commercial geography, maps, continents & oceans, geographical events, earth, space, etc.
DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF PAPER-I OF PRELIMS ON GENERAL STUDIES
POLITY
Economy
Economy
This part includes questions on Constitution of India, political system, terms and concepts, bills and legislations, governmental institutions, working of pilitical and administrative system, current political happenings and events, etc.
Economy
Economy
Economy
This part includes questions on fundamental concepts on economy, economic terms, features and working of Indian economy, economic reforms and policy changes, Economic Survey and Budget, sectors of economy, current economy, etc.
Environment
Environment
Environment
This part includes questions on conservation, bio-diversity, climate change, forests, environmental policies and institutions, international and national initiatives on environment, conventions-summits-events on environment, etc.
Science
Environment
Environment
In this part there are questions on General Science as well as scientific and technological advancements. There are questions on life sciences, nutrition, general applications of physics-chemistry, bio-technology, information and communication
MAIN EXAMINATION: GENERAL STUDIES - FOUR PAPERS
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER I
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER II
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER II
Its broader segments are History & Culture, Social Issues , and Geography
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER II
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER II
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER II
Its broader segments are Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER III
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER III
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER III
Its broader segments are Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER IV
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER III
GENERAL STUDIES - PAPER III
It is on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude and Case Studies on issues in theses parts.
MAIN EXAM GENERAL STUDIES SEGMENTS
HISTORY & CULTURE
HISTORY & CULTURE
HISTORY & CULTURE
This part is based on modern history, freedom struggle, art, architecture, post-independence consolidation, world history, etc. As world history is broad thus it needs focused reading of relevant areas.
SOCIAL ISSUES
HISTORY & CULTURE
HISTORY & CULTURE
This part is based on issues of Indian society, diversity in India, role of women’s organisations, population, poverty, urbanisation, effect of globalisation on Indian society, social empowerment, communism, regionalism, secularism, etc.
GEOGRAPHY
HISTORY & CULTURE
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
This part includes features of world physical geography, distribution of key natural resources across the world, factors affecting location of industries, geophysical phenomenon such as earthquake, tsunami, volcanic activity, cyclone, etc.
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
Basic polity and Constitution includes Constitutional provisions, Constitutional-political issues, Union and States, seperation of powers, comparison of Indian Constitution with that of other countries, legislature, executive and judiciary, Representation of People Act, Constitutional, statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies, etc.
SOCIAL JUSTICE & GOVERNANCE
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
SOCIAL JUSTICE & GOVERNANCE
Social Justice includes welfare schemes, laws and institutions for for vulnerable sections, development and management of social sector, issues relating to poverty and hunger, etc. Governance is on governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance, citizens charters, transparency and accountability, institutional and other measures, civil service in a democracy, etc.
DIPLOMACY
BASIC POLITY & CONSTITUTION
SOCIAL JUSTICE & GOVERNANCE
This part tests candidates‘ attitude on integrity, probity in public life, problem solving approach, ethics and human interface, human values, attitude, aptitude, emotional intelligence, moral thinkers, civil service values and ethics in Public Administration, Probity in Governance - Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Citizens’ Charters, etc. And Case Studies on these issues.
ECONOMY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
This parts includes planning, resource mobilisation, growth, development, employment, government budgeting, cropping patterns, irrigation, transport, agriculture, farm subsidies, public distribution system, technology missions, food processing, land reforms, effects of liberalisation, infrastructure, investment models, etc.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
This part includes developments in science & technology and effects on everyday life, achievements of Indians in science & technology, indigenisation of technology, advancements in the field of IT, Space, robotics, nano-technology, intellectual property rights, etc.
ENVIRONMENT
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DISASTER MANAGMENT
This part includes conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment, etc.
DISASTER MANAGMENT
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
DISASTER MANAGMENT
This part incudes disaster and disaster management.
INTERNAL SECURITY
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
Social Justice includes welfare schemes, laws and institutions for for vulnerable sections, development and management of social sector, issues relating to poverty and hunger, etc. Governance is on governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance, citizens charters, transparency and accountability, institutional and other measures, civil service in a democracy, etc.
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
This part tests candidates‘ attitude on integrity, probity in public life, problem solving approach, ethics and human interface, human values, attitude, aptitude, emotional intelligence, moral thinkers, civil service values and ethics in Public Administration, Probity in Governance - Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Citizens’ Charters, etc. And Case Studies on these issues.
ESSAY PAPER IN THE MAIN EXAMINATION — PLACE AND SIGNIFICANCE
WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
WEIGHTAGE IN THE EXAMINATION
Essay Paper in the Main Examination is for 250 marks, and its marks are included in 1750 those marks of Mains written which are taken for final selection and ranking (+275 of interview). And there are significant variations in Essay Paper marks of candidates qualifying Main Examination.
WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
One needs to write two essays in the in this Paper, one essay each from the two sections in the Paper. As one needs to write concise , organised and effective essay with exact expression thus there is a need to develop writing skills and do writing practice, which may even help elsewhere in the Main written.
A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS OR ISSUES
A THOROUGH COVERAGE WITH CLARITY OF IDEAS
A THOROUGH COVERAGE WITH CLARITY OF IDEAS
There are a wide range of topics from which traditional or contemporary issues appear in the essay paper say Social, Cultural, Philosophical, Historical, Political, Administrative, Scientific, Economic, etc. So essay preparation overlaps with preparation of General Studies, or even some optional subjects.
A THOROUGH COVERAGE WITH CLARITY OF IDEAS
A THOROUGH COVERAGE WITH CLARITY OF IDEAS
A THOROUGH COVERAGE WITH CLARITY OF IDEAS
As instructed length length of each essay in the exam is 1000 - 1200 words, thus one needs to prepare issues thoroughly. For effective and exact expression there should be clarity in ideas and outlook. This orientation in thinking and analysis helps in broader aspects of the preparation for the examination.
THE OPTIONAL SUBJECT - MAKE A RIGHT CHOICE
Factors in choosing an optional
Place of updates and writing skills
Place of updates and writing skills
Optional subject needs relatively deeper insight, thus one should look to the right aptitude for it. Besides, one should pay attention to time needed, availability of study material, coaching and support, syllabus, trends of questions in the exam, etc. If there is some overlapping with a part of General Studies, that is an added advantage.
Place of updates and writing skills
Place of updates and writing skills
Place of updates and writing skills
Some subjects require more updation and impressive writing skills thus one should look to that. One can also consider how far the earlier knowledge even before the start of preparation for the exam can help in boosting up its preparation and saving time.
The subject which fits one well
Place of updates and writing skills
Some subjects may not fit everybody
One should be able to retain interest in the subject in order to perform well in the two papers of the optional subject. The optional subject which better suits or fits a candidate is a more important factor, rather then placing so high importance to the high popularity of the subject.
Some subjects may not fit everybody
Some subjects may not fit everybody
Some subjects may not fit everybody
Yet some subjects are more scientific and technical in nature, thus a candidate newer for them may have to be careful while choosing optional subject or even may have to avoid them.
Still, a broad choice available
Some subjects may not fit everybody
Even language literature subjects
There are a large number of optional subjects available in the Main Examination, from amongst which one can choose an optional subjects.
Even language literature subjects
Some subjects may not fit everybody
Even language literature subjects
There are various language literature subjects as well from which one can choose, if one has needed interest and aptitude for any of these language literature subjects.
Resembling subjects available
Resembling subjects available
Resembling subjects available
Some subjects which are not available, one can look to the resembling subject with much overlapping syllabus. But this may help considerably in part of syllabus, however a part of the syllabus may still be considerably new for a candidate in that optional.
Compare by narrowing choice
Resembling subjects available
Resembling subjects available
While looking at the list of the optional subjects, a candidate can easily eliminate quite a few of them which don’t fit one. Then after, through further analysing the needs, one can further narrow the choice, then one can finally compare the few probable optionals and choose right optional subject for the Mains.
Still, time important factor
Resembling subjects available
Still, time important factor
What-so-ever, the time needed for preparing the optional subject as per the needs and standards of the Main Examination one quite important factor, that possibly is one important reason apart from some others, that still a large number of candidates opt for optional subject from humanities and social sciences.
PLACE OF INTERVIEW OR PERSONALITY TEST AND ITS PREPARATION
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
Final selection and ranking in the Civil Services Examination is based on the 1750 marks of Mains written + 275 marks of Interview Test or Personality Test. However, there exists a significant variation in the marks of the candidates appearing for the Interview. Thus Interview Test makes significant difference in the selection of a candidate as well final ranking, thus allocation of service.
PREPARATION FOR INTERVIEW
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
Interview Test is not simply test of knowledge, rather it is an assessment of overall personality. Thus preparation of interview is a continuing process, yet after the Main written exam there is sufficient time for its preparation. A good knowledge of fundamentals plus updates boosts up confidence and helps in answering interview questions precisely.
DAF-PREPARATION/ON-SELF
MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
HUMBLENESS, COURTESY AND GRACE
A candidate needs to pay attentions to multiple issues such as about the self, hobby/hobbies, home state, home district, service preferences, cadre preferences for IAS and IPS, earlier job(s)/posts (if any) if one worked, places where one spent significant part of life, occupation/profession of parents, or family business if any, subjects
A candidate needs to pay attentions to multiple issues such as about the self, hobby/hobbies, home state, home district, service preferences, cadre preferences for IAS and IPS, earlier job(s)/posts (if any) if one worked, places where one spent significant part of life, occupation/profession of parents, or family business if any, subjects in earlier educational courses or optional subject in civil services preparation, etc.
HUMBLENESS, COURTESY AND GRACE
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
HUMBLENESS, COURTESY AND GRACE
Dressing descent and formal for the interview, greeting the panel chairperson and members, be honest if one does not know the answer rather than beating the bush, listen attentively, gracefully letting the members interrupt if they want to, neither speaking too much nor too little, being confident but not over-confident and too assertive
Dressing descent and formal for the interview, greeting the panel chairperson and members, be honest if one does not know the answer rather than beating the bush, listen attentively, gracefully letting the members interrupt if they want to, neither speaking too much nor too little, being confident but not over-confident and too assertive even if one knows the issue very well, being polite and logical, not panicking if one does not know answer to any or some questions, giving straight and simple reply to a question, etc.
ABOUT CIVIL SERVICES AS A CAREER
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Why civil services as a career? If not civil services then what else? What are new non-conventional careers emerging now? Service preferences one has given and why? Cadre preferences for IAS and IPS one has given and why? What are opportunities and challenges in the Civil Services as a career? Is there any need for some major reforms in C
Why civil services as a career? If not civil services then what else? What are new non-conventional careers emerging now? Service preferences one has given and why? Cadre preferences for IAS and IPS one has given and why? What are opportunities and challenges in the Civil Services as a career? Is there any need for some major reforms in Civil Services? If yes, what? Is there any need for some major reforms in Cvil Services Examination? If yes, then what? How Civil Services can be made to contribute better for national building?
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Apart from verbal communication, there is significant role of non-verbal communication in the conversation. So one needs to have a positive but descent body language which supports the communication and is courteous. One has to pay attention to facial expression, body movement, sitting posture, etc while the conversation takes place.