PRELIMS SYLLABUS
Paper I – General Studies Paper I
● 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 the
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, etc.
● General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do
not require subject specialisation
● General Science
Paper II – General Studies Paper II:
CSAT: Civil Services Aptitude Test
● 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.) (Class X
level),
● Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level)
Main Exam Syllabus
Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English
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 and Indian language.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
Indian Languages:-
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard
and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for
ranking.
Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Language papers in English and
the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
Paper I – Essay
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep close to
the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will
be given for effective and exact expression.
Paper II – General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of
the World and the Society
● Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times.
● Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present –
significant events, personalities, issues.
● The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from
different parts of the country.
● Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.
● History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution,
world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonization, political
philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the
society.
● Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
● Role of women and women’s organisation, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and their remedies.
● Effects of globalisation on Indian society.
● Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
● Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
● 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).
● 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 in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Paper III – General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and
International Relations
● Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant
provisions and basic structure.
● Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining
to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges
therein.
● Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
● Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
● Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these.
● Structure, organisation 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.
● Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
● Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
● Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
● Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising
out of their design and implementation.
● Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
● 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.
● Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
● Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
● Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
● Role of civil services in a democracy.
● India and its neighbourhood- relations.
● Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India’s interests.
● Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
Indian diaspora.
● Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Paper IV – General Studies III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity,
Environment, Security and Disaster Management
● Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth,
development and employment.
● Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
● Government Budgeting.
● 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.
● 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; economics of animal-rearing.
● Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream
and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
● Land reforms in India.
● Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth.
● Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
● Investment models.
● Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
● Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and
developing new technology.
● Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
● Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
● Disaster and disaster management.
● Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
● Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
● 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 prevention.
● Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with
terrorism.
● Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Paper V – General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
This 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 society. Questions may utilise 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 and public relationships. Human Values –
lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of
family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
● Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour;
moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
● 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.
● Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and
governance.
● Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
● 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.
● 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,
Utilisation of public funds, challenges of corruption.
● Case Studies on the above issues.