IAS- PCS


IAS - PCS 
Preparing for the Civil Services Exam can be a gruelling and arduous task. The unpredictability of results, stiff competition, vast syllabus, the range of subjects and material to be studied—all make the endeavour pretty strenuous and stressful. The students are taught how to avoid and overcome stress. The programme undertakes thorough coverage of the prescribed syllabus of General studies and the optional subjects by well trained subject experts and professionals. At the end of the course the students not only get hold on the prescribed syllabus by the UPSC but also learn the art of success and internalize the golden principles of success so as to make it an inseparable part of their personalities.

The examination consists of two parts: The Preliminary Examination (objective type), which is a qualifying examination, and a Main Examination consisting of written examination and interview.The marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam are not counted in the Main Exam and it is only a screening exam. The Preliminary Exam is an objective type test. One can appear in the Main Examination only after passing the Preliminary Exam. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the Preliminary Examination in May/June and the Main Examination is held in October/November. The notification for the Preliminary Examination is published in December every year.

Age: The candidate must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on August 1 every year for the exam.Relaxations to the age limit are available for 3 years for OBC and 5 years for candidates belonging to the SC/ST.

Educational Qualifications: The candidate must hold a degree of any of the Universities incorporated by an act of legislature in India.

Attempts: A candidate is permitted 4 attempts at the examination. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for scheduled caste candidates but Other Backward Classes have seven attempts.

Syllabus of CSAT
Paper:1
•    200rks Duration : Two Hours
•    Current events of national and international  importance
•    History of India and Indian national Movement
•    Indian and World Geography: Physical, social, economic geography of India and World.            
•    Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, Political System,   Panchayati Raj , Public Policy, Rights   issues.
•   Economic and Social Development: Sustainable development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social sector initiatives.
•   General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity,Climate Change,- that don’t require subject specialization.
•   General Science

Paper II : 200 marks (Duration 2 hours)
•    Comprehension
•    Interpersonal skills including communication Skills
•    Logical reasoning and analytical ability
•    Decision making and Problem solving.
•    General mental ability
•    Basic Numeracy (Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) dat
•    Interpretation Skills (Charts, Graphs, tables, Data Sufficiency Class X Level)
•    English language Comprehension Skills.

Plan of the Main Examination: The Main Exam consists of a written exam and an interview test. The written exam has 9 papers of conventional essay type. Marks obtained in the Main Exam will determine whether a candidate is called for the interview. The interview carries 300 marks and the number of candidates called is about twice the number of vacancies. Interview calls are sent on the basis of minimum marks fixed by the UPSC at its discretion.Marks obtained in the Main Exam plus interview determines the final ranking. Candidates are allotted various services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and preferences expressed by them. The written examination consists of the following papers:



Paper I
One of the languages to be selected from the Eighth
300 marks


Schedule of the Constitution

Paper II
English
300 marks
Paper III
Essay
200 marks

Paper IV & V
General Studies
300 marks each

Paper VI-IX
Any two subjects from list of optional subjects.
300 marks


Each subject has two papers. 


Interview

300 marks

                                                                                                            

Optional subjects: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce and Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, 20Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science and International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology. Each paper is of 3 hours duration. The following combinations not allowed are Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration Commerce and Management Anthropology and Sociology
Maths and Statistics
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Management and Public Administration
Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science
Any two branches of engineering.


Literature of any of the following languagesArabic, Assamese, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Nepali, Oriya, Pali, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu.

Interview: The object of the interview is to assess the suitability of the candidate for a career in public service. It is an assessment of not only the intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities judged are: mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, social cohesion, leadership and above all, intellectual and moral integrity.

Prepare Well: Before initiating the preparations, a few things must be noted by the candidates. The choice of optional subject for Paper-II has to be done very carefully. The candidates must plan ahead of time with eyes on the main examination and choose the optional which he/she intends taking up in the Mains. Preparations for Paper-II also need specific planning. It would be wrong to confine the studies only to the multiple choice objective type questions. Unless a detailed study of the subject is carried out, it would be difficult to answer the questions on the subject properly.            
               The aim, must, therefore, be to clearly understand the basics of the subject by covering each and every aspect of the syllabus. This provides a candidate with adequate self-confidence and knowledge to answer the questions correctly. It is not difficult to find out a candidate who had, during the past couple of years, appeared in the prelims with the same subject. It is always better to discuss the subject, its intricacies, pattern of questions and the books to be studied. In addition, it is also not difficult to identify the candidate offering the same optional subject for Paper-II within the same town/city. It is always fruitful to have detailed discussions on various parts of the syllabus, books to be consulted for the basics, multiple choice question books or question banks and other related issues. Finally, the practice of correctly marking the answer sheet by using minimum possible time will go a long way in helping you succeed. General Studies.

               While the Optional (Paper-I) subject is very important, the candidates also need to do well in Paper-I. This paper has a maximum of 150 marks but in a competition like this where even a single mark matters a lot, these marks play a decisive role. Most candidates do well in Paper II since the subject chosen is of their interest and knowledge. General Studies paper consists of questions on Indian Polity and Economy, History of India including Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Current Affairs of National and International Importance, General and day-to-day Science, Mental Ability and Basics of Statistics etc. Questions on planning, budgeting, developmental programmes, latest issues of political and constitutional importance, panchayati raj, electoral reforms, natural resources, culture, growth of nationalism, Committees, Commission etc can be expected almost every year.. 
            The fact that this paper needs special and thorough preparations need not be over-emphasised. The aspiring candidates are expected to have keen interest in the General Studies and are supposed to have a good amount of interest in current affairs. All the preparation starting from a scratch cannot be completed in the short period of 4 to 5 months and the candidates must begin preparations early. Regular and detailed reading of a good national newspaper, a standard competition magazine and a basic book on general knowledge is the essential pre-requisite. Those readers who still have two to three years of time left for becoming eligible to go in for Civil Services Examination must begin preparations now. The candidates who do not have enough background in20the General Studies may have to put in harder effort to catch up with the others.
            To conclude, proper selection of optional subject, availability and selection of proper books and magazines,meticulous time management, proper planning, hard work and will to succeed are some of the attributes which play vital role in making a candidate successful. One thinggood about this examination is that the preparations made do not go waste and are properly utilised for the main examination. Hard work invariably is rewarded with the sweet taste of success.

Success Plan for Mains:Preparations for the Civil Services Mains Exam should start along with those of Preliminary exam. This is because there is much common ground for study, and there is little time for the mains exam if one waits for the results of the Preliminaries. It is a long haul and preparations should be done with persistence, over nine months to an year.

Choice of subjects:One of the first questions that has to be answered is the choice of subjects. Here the choice should not only be with regard to your interests but also with regard to the study material available.The next step is to make a time-bound study plan, which would include not only studying the subject but improvement of writing expression. This is done by writing down the answers to the questions asked in previous years' papers.

The following topics need coverage for General Studies:
1.  Current Affairs-National and International
2.  Indian Polity
3.  Indian Economy
4.  Geography
5.  Science and Technology
6.  History of India and Freedom Movement
7.  General Mental Ability

Optional subjects:

                While studying for the optional subjects, keep in mind that there is no scope for selective studies in the Civil Services Examination. The whole syllabus must be completely and thoroughly covered. Invariably, some candidates organize their studies in a manner that they study one subject thoroughly, with reduced emphasis on their second subject. It is imperative that equal stress be given to both the subjects you have chosen.It is also important to remember that the level of questions asked is of the Masters level examination. The questions have an added spin in order to bring out the grasp of the candidate with regard to the basic concepts of the subject. Hence, if you choose subjects in which you do not have a basic grounding, it would be advisable to start from simple books. After getting the grasp of the basic concepts, start with higher level study material. Here again, reflections on basic concepts and their application in real life is important. For best preparation and a success plan, it is suggested that the candidate make a habit of beginning his study by writing answers to three questions each day, one each from General Studies and two from optional subjects. Questions should be chosen from previous years'papers and the answer writing should be preceded by study on the subject.
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                                               PCS
                                             PRELIMINARY EXAM

Paper I
General Studies
150 marks

Paper II
CSAT 
150 Marks



                                                                   Duration: 2 hours in each Paper 


GENERAL STUDIES

Paper –I General Studies

1. Everyday Science States of matter, structure of atom, versatile     nature of carbon. Acids,   bases, salt: corrosion in metals, action of soaps. Life on Earth – evolution, marine & terrestrial life. Human body and life processes, nutrition,  disease -its causes & prevention, infectious diseases, lifestyle diseases.Public health initiatives, mother and child health,  immunization & vaccination, HIV-AIDS, TB, polio etc.Force-laws of motion & gravitation, Archimedes principle.  Energy – kinetic & potential.Light – reflection & refraction – concepts and applications. Sound – propagation & reflection- concepts and applications. Electric current – concepts and applications. Computers and  telecommunication– concepts and applications.

2. Environmental studies Composition and structure of the atmosphere.Solar system – heat balance &  temperature. Atmospheric circulation & weather system, water cycle.Climate change – fossil fuels,  greenhouse gases,renewable energy, clean  development mechanism,carbon credits. Water – oceans, rivers, glaciers, lakes, groundwater etc. Biodiversity & conservation.Soil – types, crops, food chain etc. Pollution and toxicity etc.
3. Political theory & international order Basic concept of freedom, equality, social    justice, rights & duties, citizenship, nationalism, secularism etc. United Nations and its organs/agencies, other international organizations like the World Bank, IMF, WTO, EU, G20, BRICS etc. and their role in the World peace, trade & development. Indian polity Basic features, provisions, schedules of the Indian Constitution, key amendments. Panchayati Raj.Elections – People’s Representation Act, electoral reforms.Rise regionalism and coalition politics. Armed challenges to the Indian state since independence.



4. History of India The Indus valley civilization. The Aryan and the Vedic age. Jainism and Buddhism.The Maurya and Gupta periods. Advent of Islam and Sultanate period (political, social & cultural).
The Bhakti Movement. The Mughals (political, social & cultural till Aurangzeb). The coming of the European Powers and the advent of the British rule. The Mutiny of 1857.The British rule and the Indian National Movement (1857-1947)

World History

               The Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Important Events namely The American Revolution 1776; The French Revolution 1789; The Russian Revolution 1917; World Wars I & II.

5. Indian Economy Indian economic development (1950-1991) – key economic policies, public sector dominance, bank nationalisation etc.Five year plans – key goals and main achievements. Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation erasince 1991 – key policies, decisions and results. Performance of Indian economy since 1991 – Growth, fiscal & revenue deficits, trade,commerce & balance of payments, inflation, growth of service sector. Key challenges and responses – agriculture and food security, industrialisation, poverty alleviation & employment, rura & urban infrastructure,social sector – health, education etc.

6. Geography Population – distribution, density, growth and comparison. Migration – types, causes and consequences. Human development. Human settlements. Land resources and agriculture. Water resources.Mineral and energy resources. Manufacturing industries. Planning and sustainable development in India. Transport and communication. International trade. Geographical perspective on selected issues & problems.
7. Current events of national and international importance.

Punjab
1.  Geography Geographical and agro-climatic regions, rivers, water resources,sharing of waters,demographics, human development indices.
2.  People, Society and Culture Major personalities in history of Punjab,religious movements, major religions & spiritual personalities, Punjabi literature, folklore, performing arts, fine arts and crafts. 
3.  History Sufis, saints and gurus, Lodhis and Mughals, Sikh rulers, the British period, nationalist movement in Punjab, Punjab in independent India.
4.  Economy Agriculture, animal husbandry, industrial & service sectors, major occupations, development  & economic growth, public finance (including central-state fiscal issues), public sector institutions,cooperatives etc.

Paper –II Civil Services Aptitude Test
1.  Reading comprehension; Punjabi and English language  comprehension, antonyms and synonyms,grammar  and sentence formation.
2.  Interpersonal skills including communication skills 
3.  Logical reasoning, analytical and mental ability 
4.  Basic numerical skills; numbers, magnitudes, percentages, numerical relation appreciation 
5.  Data analysis; Graphic presentations, charts, tables, spreadsheets.



Subject Code
Optional Subject
31
Agriculture
34
Botany
35
Chemistry
37
Commerce and Accountancy
38
Economics
40
Geography
41
Geology
42
History
43
Law
45
Mathematics
48
Philosophy
49
Physics
50
Political Science & International Relations
51
Psychology
52
Public Administration
53
Sociology
54
Statistics
55
Zoology
32
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
36
Civil Engineering
39
Electrical Engineering
46
Mechanical Engineering
47
Medical Science
33
Anthropology
44
Management
56
Literature of one of the following: Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Urdu or English

Duration: 3 hours in each paper





Note : (i) Candidates shall not be allowed to offer the following combinations of subjects:  

 (a) Political Science and International Relations and Public
 Administration;
 (b) Commerce and Accountancy and Management;
 (c) Anthropology and Sociology;
 (d) Mathematics and Statistics;
 (e) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary  Science;
 (f) Management and Public Administration:
 (g) Of the Engineering subject viz., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering—not more than one subject;
 (h) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science and Medical Science.

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                                              MAINS

Paper
Subject
Maximum Marks
I
English
100
II
Essay
100
III
Punjabi (in Gurmukhi Script)
100
IV & V
General Studies (Two papers of 100 marks each)
200
VI to IX
Any two subjects to be selected from the list of the optional subjects.
400

Total
1000


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