IAS Mains Syllabus

MAIN EXAMINATION 

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understandingof 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 questionswill be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance fora 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 isbroadly 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.

Syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows:-

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.

English Comprehension & English Precis will be to test the English language Comprehension and English

précis writing skills (at 10th standard level).

PAPER-II

General Studies- I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

1- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

2- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues

3- The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.

4- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

5- 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.

6-Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

7- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and

developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

8- Effects of globalization on Indian society.

9- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

10- Salient features of world’s physical geography.

11-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 invarious parts of the world (including India)

12-Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including waterbodiesand 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.

1.Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisionsand basic structure.

2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to thefederal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.

3. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

4. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

5. Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privilegesand issues arising out of these.

6. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departmentsof the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

7. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of variousConstitutional Bodies.

9. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

10. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out oftheir design and implementation.

11. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups andassociations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

12.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.

13.Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

Education, Human Resources.

14. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

15.Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications,models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability andinstitutional and other measures.

16. Role of civil services in a democracy.

17. India and its neighborhood- relations.

18.Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

19. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indiandiaspora.

20.Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

PAPER-IV

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

1.Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development andemployment.

2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

3. Government Budgeting.

4. 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 relatedconstraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers

5. 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.

6. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream anddownstream requirements, supply chain management.

7. Land reforms in India.

8. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrialgrowth.

9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

10. Investment models.

11.Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

12. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing newtechnology.

13.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology andissues relating to intellectual property rights.

14.Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

15.Disaster and disaster management.

16.Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

17.Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

18.Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networkingsites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention

19.Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with

terrorism

20.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.