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.

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.

• Indian Constitution—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, 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

PAPER-IV

General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and
Disaster Management

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, 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 liberalization 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 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.