General Studies - I

Indian Heritage & Culture

1. Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature & Architecture from ancient to modern times.
History of India.
1. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 19th century until the present- significant events,
personalities, issues
2. The Freedom Struggle - its various stages & important contributors / contributions from different parts of
the country.
3. Post-independence consolidation & reorganization within the country.
History of the World
1. History of the world will include events from 18th century such as
i. industrial revolution,
ii. world wars,
iii. redrawal of national boundaries,
iv. colonization, decolonization,
v. Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms & effect on the society.
Indian Society
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
1. Role of women & womens organization,
2. population & associated issues,
3. poverty & developmental issues,
4. Urbanization, their problems & their remedies.
5. Effects of globalization on Indian society
6. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Geography of the World & Society.
1. Salient features of worlds physical geography.
a. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia & the Indian
subcontinent);
b. factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, & tertiary sector industries in various
parts of the world (including India)
2. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
3. Geographical features & their location - changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies &
ice-caps) & in flora & fauna & the effects of such changes

General Studies - II
Constitution
1. Indian Constitutiona. historical underpinnings, evolution,
b. features, amendments,
c. significant provisions and
d. Basic structure.
Polity
1. Union and the States
a. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States,
b. issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure,
c. Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
d. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
e. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
2. Parliament and State Legislatures
a. structure,
b. functioning,
c. conduct of business,
d. powers & privileges and
e. Issues arising out of these.
3. 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.
4. Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act.
5. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
6. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
7. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.
Social Justice
1. Development processes and the development industry - the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
2. 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.
3. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector / Services relating to Health, Education,
Human Resources.
4. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Governance
1. Important aspects of governance,
2. transparency and accountability,
3. e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
4. Role of civil services in a democracy.
International relations
1. India and its neighborhood- relations.
2. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting Indias interests
3. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Indias interests, Indian Diaspora.
4. Important International institutions, agencies and forum- their structure, mandate.

General Studies - III

Economic Development
1. Indian Economy and issues relating to
a. planning,
b. mobilization of resources,
c. growth,
d. development and
e. Employment.
2. Inclusive growth & issues arising from it.
3. Government Budgeting.
4. Agriculture:
a. Major crops cropping patterns in various
parts of the country,
b. different types of irrigation and irrigation
systems storage,
c. transport and marketing of agricultural
produce and issues and related constraints;
d. e-technology in the aid of farmers
e. Issues related to direct and indirect farm
subsidies
f. Issues related to minimum support prices;
g. Public Distribution Systemi. objectives, functioning,

ii. limitations, revamping;

iii. issues of buffer stocks and food security;
iv. Technology missions;
v. Economics of animal-rearing.
h. Food processing and related industries in
Indiai. scope and significance,
ii. location,
iii. upstream and downstream requirements,
iv. Supply chain management.
i. Land reforms in India.
5. industrial policy
a. Effects of liberalization on the economy,
b. changes in industrial policy
c. Effects of industrial policy on industrial
growth.
6. Infrastructure:
a. Energy, Ports,
b. Roads, Airports, Railways.
7. Investment models.

Technology
1. Science and Technologya. developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
b. Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
c. indigenization of technology
d. Developing new technology.
e. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology
f. Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Environment & Biodiversity
1. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,
2. environmental impact assessment
Disaster Management.
Security Management.
1. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
2. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
3. Challenges to internal security through communication networks,
4. role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
5. basics of cyber security;
6. money-laundering and its prevention
7. Security challenges and their management in border areas;
8. linkages of organized crime with terrorism
9. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

General Studies - IV
Ethics
1. Ethics and Human Interface:
a. Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;
b. dimensions of ethics;
c. ethics in private and public relationships.
d. Human Values
i. lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders,
ii. reformers and administrators;
iii. role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
2. Attitude:
a. content,
b. structure,
c. function;
d. its influence and relation with thought and behavior;
e. moral and political attitudes;
f. Social influence and persuasion.
Aptitude

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

a. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service ,

b. integrity,
c. impartiality and non-partisanship,
d. objectivity,
e. dedication to public service,
f. empathy,
g. Tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
Emotional intelligence
a. 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:
a. Status and problems;
b. ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions;
c. laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
d. accountability and ethical governance;
e. strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;
f. ethical issues in international relations and funding;
g. Corporate governance.
Probity in Governance:
a. Concept of public service;
b. Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
c. Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics,
Codes of Conduct, Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of
public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on above issues.