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 I I 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 candidates general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have
relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the
candidates 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.
PAPER-I
Essay: 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.
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 womens 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 worlds 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 waterbodies and ice-caps) and
inflora 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 Peoples 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 Indias interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
Indias 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.
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,
Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality ofservice delivery, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on above issues.

PSYCHOLOGY
PAPER - I
Foundations of Psychology
1. Introduction:
Definition of Psychology; Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends in the
21st century; Psychology and scientific methods; Psychology in relation to other
social sciences and natural sciences; Application of Psychology to societal
problems.
2. Methods of Psychology:
Types of research: Descriptive, evaluative, diagnostic and prognostic; Methods of
Research: Survey, observation, case-study and experiments; Characteristics of
experimental design and non-experimental design, Quasi-experimental designs;
Focussed group discussions, brain storming, grounded theory approach.
3. Research Methods:
Major steps in Psychological research (problem statement, hypothesis
formulation, research designs, sampling, tools of data collection, analysis and
interpretation and report writing) Fundamental versus applied research;
Methods of data collection (interview, observation, questionnaire); Research
designs (ex-post facto and experimental); Application of statistical technique (t -
test, two way ANOVA correlation, regression and factor analysis); Item response
theory.
4. Development of Human Behaviour:
Growth and development; Principles of development, Role of genetic and
environmental factors in determining human behaviour; Influence of cultural
factors in socialization; Life span development Characteristics, development tasks,
promoting psychological well-being across major stages of the life span.
5. Sensation, Attention and Perception:
Sensation: concepts of threshold, absolute and difference thresholds, signal-
detection and vigilance; Factors influencing attention including set and
characteristics of stimulus; Definition and concept of perception, biological
factors in perception; Perceptual organization-influence of past experiences,
perceptual defence factors influencing space and depth perception, size
estimation and perceptual readiness; The plasticity of perception; Extrasensory
perception; Culture and perception, Subliminal perception.
6. Learning:
Concept and theories of learning (Behaviourists, Gestaltalist and Information
processing models); The Processes of extinction, discrimination and
generalization; Programmed learning, probability learning, self-instructional
learning, concepts; Types and the schedules of reinforcement, escape, avoidance
and punishment, modeling and social learning.
7. Memory:
Encoding and remembering; Short term memory, Long term memory, Sensory
memory, Iconic memory, Echoic memory: The Multistore model, levels of
processing; Organization and Mnemonic techniques to improve memory;
Theories of forgetting: decay, interference and retrieval failure: Metamemory;
Amnesia: Anterograde and retrograde.
8. Thinking and Problem Solving:
Piagets theory of cognitive development; Concept formation processes;
Information processing, Reasoning and problem solving, Facilitating and hindering
factors in problem solving, Methods of problem solving: Creative thinking and
fostering creativity; Factors influencing decision making and judgment; Recent
trends.
9. Motivation and Emotion:
Psychological and physiological basis of motivation and emotion; Measurement
of motivation and emotion; Effects of motivation and emotion on behaviour;
Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation; Factors influencing intrinsic motivation;
Emotional competence and the related issues.
10. Intelligence and Aptitude:
Concept of intelligence and aptitude, Nature and theories of intelligence
Spearman, Thurstone, Gullford Vernon, Sternberg and J.P; Das; Emotional
Intelligence, Social intelligence, measurement of intelligence and aptitudes,
concept of IQ, deviation IQ, constancy of IQ; Measurement of multiple
intelligence; Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
11. Personality:
Definition and concept of personality; Theories of personality (psychoanalytical,
sociocultural, interpersonal, developmental, humanistic, behaviouristic, trait and
type approaches); Measurement of personality (projective tests, pencil-paper
test); The Indian approach to personality; Training for personality development;
Latest approaches like big 5 factor theory; The notion of self in different
traditions.
12. Attitudes, Values and Interests:
Definition of attitudes, values and interests; Components of attitudes; Formation
and maintenance of attitudes; Measurement of attitudes, values and interests;
Theories of attitude change; Strategies for fostering values; Formation of
stereotypes and prejudices; Changing others behaviour; Theories of attribution;
Recent trends.
13. Language and Communication:
Human language - Properties, structure and linguistic hierarchy, Language
acquisition-predisposition, critical period hypothesis; Theories of language
development Skinner and Chomsky; Process and types of communication -
effective communication training.
14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology:
Computer application in the psychological laboratory and psychological testing;
Artificial intelligence; Psychocybernetics; Study of consciousness-sleep-wake
schedules; dreams, stimulus deprivation, meditation, hypnotic/drug induced
states; Extrasensory perception; Intersensory perception Simulation studies.
PAPER - II
Psychology: Issues and Applications
1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences:
The nature of individual differences; Characteristics and construction of
standardized psychological tests; Types of psychological tests; Use, misuse and
limitation of psychological tests; ethical issues in the use of psychological tests.
2. Psychological well being and Mental Disorders:
Concept of health-ill health; Positive health, well being; Causal factors in mental
disorders (Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia and delusional
disorders; personality disorders, substance abuse disorders); Factors influencing
positive health, well being, life style and quality of life; Happiness disposition.
3. Therapeutic Approaches:
Psychodynamic therapies; Behaviour therapies; Client centered therapy; Cognitive
therapies; Indigenous therapies (Yoga, Meditation); Bio-feedback therapy;
Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill; Fostering mental health.
4. Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour:
Personnel selection and training; Use of psychological tests in the industry;
Training and human resource development; Theories of work motivation
Herzberg, Maslow, Adam Equity theory, Porter and Lawler, Vroom; Leadership
and participatory management; Advertising and marketing; Stress and its
management; Ergonomics; consumer psychology; Managerial effectiveness;
Transformational leadership; Sensitivity training; Power and politics in
organizations.
5. Application of Psychology to Educational Field:
Psychological principles underlying effective teaching-learning process; Learning
styles; Gifted, retarded, learning disabled and their training; Training for
improving memory and better academic achievement; Personality development
and value education, Educational, vocational guidance and career counseling; Use
of psychological tests in educational institutions; Effective strategies in guidance
programmes.
6. Community Psychology:
Definition and concept of community psychology; Use of small groups in social
action; Arousing community consciousness and action for handling social
problems; Group decision making and leadership for social change; Effective
strategies for social change.
7. Rehabilitation Psychology:
Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes- role of psychologists;
Organising of services for rehabilitation of physically, mentally and socially
challenged persons including old persons, Rehabilitation of persons suffering from
substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, criminal behaviour; Rehabilitation of
victims of violence, Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims, the role of social agencies.
8. Application of Psychology to disadvantaged groups:
The concepts of disadvantaged, deprivation; Social, physical, cultural and
economic consequences of disadvantaged and deprived groups; Educating and
motivating the disadvantaged towards development; Relative and prolonged
deprivation.
9. Psychological problems of social integration:
The concept of social integration; The problem of caste, class, religion and
language conflicts and prejudice; Nature and manifestation of prejudice between
the in-group and out-group; Causal factors of social conflicts and prejudices;
Psychological strategies for handling the conflicts and prejudices; Measures to
achieve social integration.
10. Application of Psychology in Information Technology and Mass Media:
The present scenario of information technology and the mass media boom and
the role of psychologists; Selection and training of psychology professionals to
work in the field of IT and mass media; Distance learning through IT and mass
media; Entrepreneurship through e-commerce; Multilevel marketing; Impact of
TV and fostering value through IT and mass media; Psychological consequences of
recent developments in Information Technology.
11. Psychology and Economic development:
Achievement motivation and economic development; Characteristics of
entrepreneurial behaviour; Motivating and training people for entrepreneurship
and economic development; Consumer rights and consumer awareness,
Government policies for promotion of entrepreneurship among youth including
women entrepreneurs.
12. Application of psychology to environment and related fields:
Environmental psychology-effects of noise, pollution and crowding; Population
psychology: psychological consequences of population explosion and high
population density; Motivating for small family norm; Impact of rapid scientific
and technological growth on degradation of environment.
13. Application of psychology in other fields:
(a) Military Psychology
Devising psychological tests for defence personnel for use in selection, Training,
counseling; training psychologists to work with defence personnel in promoting
positive health; Human engineering in defence.
(b) Sports Psychology
Psychological interventions in improving performance of athletes and sports.
Persons participating in Individual and Team Games.
(c) Media influences on pro and antisocial behaviour.
(d) Psychology of terrorism.
14. Psychology of Gender:
Issues of discrimination, Management of diversity; Glass ceiling effect, Self
fulfilling prophesy, Women and Indian society.