SECTION III – Part B

MAIN EXAMINATION

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 scope of the syllabus for the optional subject papers for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level i.e a level higher than the bachelors degree and lower than the masters degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and Law, the level corresponds to the bachelors degree.

Compulsory Subjects for Main Examination

English – Compulsory (Main Examination) 

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned.

Essay – Compulsory (Main Examination)

Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. 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 – Compulsory (Main Examination) 

The nature and standard of questions in these papers 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 a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.

Paper- I

The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the Freedom Movement and Social reforms. The part relating to Indian Culture will cover all aspects of Indian Culture from the ancient to modern times.

This part will include questions on the Constitution of India, Political system and related matters.

This part is intended to test the Candidate's awareness of current national issues and topics of social relevance in the present-day India , such as the following.

Demography & Human Resource & related issues. Behavioural & Social issues & Social Welfare problems, such as child labour, gender equality, adult literacy, rehabilitation of the handicapped and other deprived segments of the society, drug abuse, public health etc.

Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national heritage.

Paper-II

In this part, questions will be on the planning and economic development in India , economic & trade issues, Foreign Trade, the role and functions of I.M.F., World Bank, W.T.O. etc.

This part will include questions on important events in world affairs and on international institutions.

In this part, questions will test the candidate's awareness of the developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space and also basic ideas of computers.

This part will include exercises to test the candidate's ability to draw common sense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical or diagrammatical form and to point out deficiencies, limitations or inconsistencies therein.

Optional Subjects for Main Examination

Total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight. All questions will carry equal marks. Each paper will be divided into two parts, viz. Part A and Part B, each Part containing four questions. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One question in each Part will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer three more questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each Part. In this way, at least two questions will be attempted from each Part i.e. one compulsory question plus one more.