Exam Structure for Competitive Exams
Exam Structure for Competitive Exams
A. Preliminary Examination
NOTE:
(i) Both the question papers will be of the objective type
(multiple choice questions).
(ii) The General Studies Paper-II of the Combined Competitive
(Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with
minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
(iii) The question papers will be set in English.
(iv) Each paper will be of two hours’ duration. Blind candidates
and the candidates with Locomotor Disability and Cerebral
Palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is affected to the
extent of slowing the performance or function (minimum of
40% impairment) will however; be allowed an extra time of
twenty minutes per hour for each paper.
B. Main Examination:
1. The written examination will consist of the following papers:
Qualifying Paper:
English 300 Marks
Paper-V
General Studies –IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
Paper-VI
Optional Subject – Paper -I 250 Marks
Paper-VII
Optional Subject – Paper-II
250 Marks
Sub Total (Written test) 1750 Marks
Personality Test (interview) 250 Marks
Grand Total: 2000 Marks
NOTE:
(i) The paper on English will be of Matriculation or
equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The
marks obtained in this paper will not be counted for
ranking.
(ii) Evaluation of the papers, namely, ‘Essay’, ‘General
Studies’ and Optional Subject of all the candidates
would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of
their qualifying paper on English but the papers on
‘Essay’, General Studies and Optional Subject of only
such candidates will be taken cognizance of who obtain
25% marks in ‘English’ as minimum qualifying standard
in this qualifying paper.
1) Agriculture:
3) Anthropology:
4) Botany:
5) Chemistry:
6) Civil Engineering:
8) Economics:
9) Electrical Engineering:
10) Geography:
11) Geology;
12) History:
13) Law;
14) Management;
15) Mathematics;
18) Philosophy;
19) Physics;
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20) Political Science & International Relations;
21) Psychology;
23) Sociology;
24) Statistics;
25) Zoology;
NOTE:
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2. The Commission shall also be assisted during the Interview by
Expert(s) in Behavioural Sciences and Public Administration as may
be selected/nominated by the Chairman of the Commission.
PART-A
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
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)
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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 nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to
Paper 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
a 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
analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio- economic goals, objectives and demands.
The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.
The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) 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.
The syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Combined Competitive (Main)
Examination is given as follows:-
PAPER-I
Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. 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.
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PAPER-II
General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the
World and 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 reorganization within the country.
History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial
revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization,
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 organization, population and associated
issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and
their remedies.
Effects of globalization on Indian society
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia
and the Indian subcontinent); 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, Cyclone 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.
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Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Structure, organization 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 neighborhood- 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, Bio diversity,
Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
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 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 and public
relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great
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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 behavior; 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 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, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on above issues.
AGRICULTURE
PAPER-I
Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management
and conservation. Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and
production. Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments. Environmental
pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans. Climate change—
International conventions and global initiatives. Green house effect and global warming.
Advance tools for ecosystem analysis— Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic
Information Systems (GIS).
Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Impact of high-
yielding and short-duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns. Concepts of various
cropping, and farming systems. Organic and Precision farming. Package of practices for
production of important cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibres, sugar, commercial and fodder
crops.
Important features, and scope of various types of forestry plantations such as social
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receivers, AM receivers, communication receivers, FM receivers, phase locked loop, SSB
receiver Signal to noise ratio calculation or AM and FM receivers.
PAPER-II
1. Control Systems :
Elements of control systems; block-diagram representations; open-loop & closed-loop
systems; principles and applications of feed-back. Control system components. LTI
systems : time-domain and transform-domain analysis. Stability : Routh Hurwitz criterion,
root-loci, Bode-plots and polor plots, Nyquist’s criterion; Design of lead-lad compensators.
Proportional, PI, PID controllers. State-variable representation and analysis of control
systems.
2. Microprocessors and Microcomputers :
PC organisation; CPU, instruction set, register settiming diagram, programming, interrupts,
memory interfacing, I/O interfacing, programmable peripheral devices.
3. Measurement and Instrumentation :
Error analysis; measurement of current voltage, power, energy, power-factor, resistance,
inductance, capacitance and frequency; bridge measurements. Signal conditioning circuit;
Electronic measuring instruments : multimeter, CRO, digital voltmeter, frequency counter,
Q-meter, spectrum-analyser, distoration-meter. Transducers : thermocouple, thermistor,
LVDT, strain-guage, piezo-electric crystal.
4. Power Systems: Analysis and Control :
Steady-state performance of overhead transmission lines and cables; principles of active
and reactive power transfer and distribution; per-unit quantities; bus admittance and
impedance matrices; load flow; voltage control and power factor correction; economic
operation; symmetrical components, analysis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults.
Concepts of system stability : swing curves and equal area criterion. Static VAR system.
Basic concepts of HVDC transmission.
5. Power System Protection :
Principles of overcurrent, differential and distance protection. Concept of solid state relays.
Circuit brakers. Computer aided protection : introduction; line, bus, generator, transformer
protection; numeric relays and application of DSP to protection.
6. Digital Communication :
Pulse code modulation (PCM), defferential pulse code modulation (DPCM), delta
modulation (DM), Digital modulation and demodulation schemes : amplitude, phase and
frequency keying schemes (ASK, PSK, FSK). Error control coding : error detection and
correction, linear block codes, convolation codes. Information measure and source coding.
Data networks, 7-layer architecture.
GEOGRAPHY
PAPER-I
PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY
Physical Geography :
1. Geomorphology : Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and
exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crusts; Fundamentals of
geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines;
Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building;
Volcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Land
scape development; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion
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surfaces; Slope development; Applied Geomorphology; Geomorphology, economic
geology and environment.
2. Climatology : Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the
earth; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and
local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto; Temperate and
tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate;
Koppen’s Thornthwaite’s and Trewar Tha’s classification of world climate;
Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change, and role and response of man in
climatic changes Applied climatology and Urban climate.
3. Oceanography : Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans;
Temperature and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits;
Waves, currents and tides; Marine resources; biotic, mineral and energy resources;
Coral reefs coral bleaching; Sea-level changes; Law of the sea and marine
pollution.
4. Biogeography : Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile;
Soil erosion, Degrada-tion and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution
of plants and animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures;
Social forestry, agro-forestry; Wild life; Major gene pool centres.
5. Environmental Geography : Principle ecology; Human ecological adaptations;
Influence of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological
changes and imbalances; Ecosystem their management and conservation;
Environmental degradation, management and conservation; Biodiversity and
sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental hazards and
remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.
Human Geography :
1. Perspectives in Human Geography : Areal differentiation; Regional synthesis;
Dichotomy and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational
analysis; Radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages,
religions and secularisation; Cultural regions of the world; Human development
indix.
2. Economic Geography : World economic development: measurement and
problems; World resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth;
World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; Agricultural inputs and
productivity; Food and nutritions problems; Food security; famine: causes, effects
and remedies; World industries: location patterns and problems; Patterns of world
trade.
3. Population and Settlement Geography : Growth and distribution of world
population; Demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration;
Concepts of over-under-and optimum population; Population theories, world
population problems and policies, Social well-being and quality of life; Population as
social capital.
Types and patterns of rural settlements; Environmental issues in rural settlements;
Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology; Concept of primate city and
rank-size rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban influence; Rural-
urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization; Sustainable
development of cities.
4. Regional Planning : Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of
regionalisation; Growth centres and growth poles; Regional imbalances; Regional
development strategies; Environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for
sustainable development.
5. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography :
System analysis in Human geography; Malthusian, Marxian and demographic
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transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch; Perroux and
Boudeville; Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location; Weber’s model of industrial
location; Ostov’s model of stages of growth. Heart-land and Rimland theories; Laws
of international boundaries and frontiers.
PAPER-II
GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA
1. Physical Setting : Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries; Structure
and relief; Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of
Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns; Tropical cyclones and western disturbances;
Floods and droughts; Climatic regions; Natural vegetation, Soil types and their
distributions.
2. Resources : Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine
resources, Forest and wild life resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.
3. Agriculture : Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors;
land holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural
productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability; Agro and social-
forestry; Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications;
Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources and white revolution; Aqua-culture;
Sericulture, Agriculture and poultry; Agricultural regionalisation; Agro-climatic zones;
Agro-ecological regions.
4. Industry : Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and
steel, aluminium, fertiliser, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage
and ago-based industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector
underkings; Industrial regionalisation; New industrial policy; Multinationals and
liberalisation; Special Economic Zones; Tourism including ecotourism.
5. Transport, Communication and Trade : Road, railway, waterway, airway and
pipeline net works and their complementary roles in regional development; Growing
importance of ports on national and foreign trade; Trade balance; Trade Policy;
Export processing zones; Developments in communication and information
technology and their impacts on economy and society; Indian space programme.
6. Cultural Setting : Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial linguistic and
ethnic diversities; religious minorities; Major tribes, tribal areas and their problems;
Cultural regions; Growth, distribution and density of population; Demographic
attributes: sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio,
longevity; migration (inter-regional, interaregional and international) and associated
problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators.
7. Settlements : Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; Urban
developments; Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities;
Conurbations and metropolitan regions; Urban sprawl; Slums and asssociated
problems; Town planning; Problems of urbanisation and remedies.
8. Regional Development and Planning: Experience of regional planning in India;
Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and
decentralised planning; Command area development; Watershed management;
Planning for backward area, desert, drought-prone, hill tribal area development;
Multi-level planning; Regional planning and development of island territories.
9. Political Aspects : Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganisation;
Emergence of new states; Regional consciousness and inter-state issues;
International boundary of India and related issues; Cross-border terrorism; India’s
role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.
10. Contemporary Issues : Ecological issues: Environmental hazards: landslides,
earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics; Issues related to
environmental pollution; Changes in patterns of land use; Principles of environmental
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impact assessment and environmental management; Population explosion and food
security; Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion;
Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities in economic
development; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environmental
awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.
GEOLOGY
PAPER-I
1. General Geology :
The Solar System, meteorites, origin and interior of the earth and age of earth; Volcanoes—
causes and products, Volcanic belts. Earthquakes—causes, effects, seismic of zone of
India; Island arcs, trenches and mid-ocean ridges; Continental drift; Seafloor spreading,
plate tectonics. Isostasy.
2. Geomorphology and Remote Sensing :
Basic concepts of geomorphology. Weathering and soil formations; Landforms, slopes and
drainage. Geomorphic cycles and their interpretation. Morphology and its relation to
structures and lithology; Coastal geomorphology; Applications of geomorphology in mineral
prospecting, civil engineering; hydrology and environmental studies; Geomorphology of
Indian sub-continent.
Aerial photographs and their interpretation—merits and limitations; The Electromagnetic
spectrum. Orbiting Satellites and Sensor Systems. Indian Remote Sensing Satellites.
Satellite data products; Applications of remote sensing in geology; The Geographic
Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS)—its applications.
3. Structural Geology :
Principles of geologic mapping and map reading, projection diagrams, Stress and strain
ellipsoid and stress-strain relationships of elastic, plastic and viscous materials; Strain
markers in deformed rocks. Behaviour of minerals and rocks under deformation conditions.
Folds and faults classification and mechanics; Structural analysis of folds, foliations,
lineations, joints and faults, unconformities; Time-relationship between crystallization and
deformation.
4. Paleontology :
Species—definition and nomenclature; Megafossils and Microfossils. Modes of preservation
of fossils; Different kinds of microfossils; Application of microfossils in correlation, petroleum
exploration, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic studies; Evolutionary trend in Hominidae,
Equidae and Proboscidae. Siwalik fauna.
Gondwana flora and fauna and its importance; Index fossils and their significance.
5. Indian Stratigraphy :
Classification of stratigraphic sequences: lithostrati-graphic, biostratigraphic, chrono-
stratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic and their interrelationships; Distribution and
classification of Precambrian rocks of India; Study of stratigraphic distribution and lithology
of Phanerozoic rocks of India with reference to fauna, flora and economic importance. Major
boundary problems—Cambrian/ Precambrian, Permian/Triassic, Cretaceous/Tertiary and
Pliocene/Pleistocene; Study of climatic conditions, paleogeography and igneous activity in
the Indian sub-continent in the geological past. Tectonic framework of India. Evolution of the
Himalayas.
6. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology :
Hydrologic cycle and genetic classification of water; Movement of subsurface water;
Springs; Porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient,
classification of aquifers; Water-bearing characteristics of rocks; Groundwater chemistry.
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