Compulsory Subject - General Studies

of Part A - Preliminary Examination of Civil Services Exam

General Science.
Current events of national and international importance
History of India and Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography
Indian Polity and Economy
General Mental Ability
Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of science
including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well
educated person who has not made a special study of any particular scientific discipline. In
current events, knowledge of significant national and international events will be tested. In
History of India, emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social,
economic and political aspects. Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the
nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and
attainment of Independence. In Geography, emphasis will be on Geography of India.
Questions on the Geography of India will relate to physical, social and economic Geography
of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources.
Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the countrys political
system and Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj, Social Systems and economic
developments in India. On general mental ability, the candidates will be tested on reasoning
and analytical abilities.

Economics - Optional
of Part A - Preliminary Examination of Civil Services Exam

Part-I
General Economics
1) Micro-economics : (a) Production : Agents of Production; Costs and Supply; Isoquants (b)
Consumption and Demand; Elasticity concept (c) Market Structure and concepts of
equilibrium; (d) Determination of prices; (e) Components and Theories of Distribution (f)
Elementary concepts of Welfare economics : Pareto-optimality-Private and social productsconsumers surplus.
2) Macro-economics : (a) National Income concepts; (b) Determinants of National Income
Employment (c) Determinants of consumption, savings and Investment (d) Rate of Interest
and its determination (e) Interest and profit.

3) Money, Banking and Public Finance : (a) Concepts of Money and measures of money
supply; velocity of money (b) Banks and credit creation; Banks and portfolio management.
(c) Central Bank and control over money supply (d) Determination of the price level. (e)
Inflation, its causes and remedies. (f) Public, Finance-Budgets-Taxes and non-tax revenuesTypes of Budget deficits.
4) International Economics : (a) Theories of International Trade-comparative costsHeckscher-Ohlin-Gains from Trade-Terms of Trade.
(b) Free Trade and Protection.
(c) Balance of Payments accounts and Adjustment.
(d) Exchange rate under free exchange markets.
(e) Evolution of the International Monetary System and World Trading order-Gold Standardthe Brettonwoods system.
IMF and the World Bank and their associates.
Floating rates-GATT and WTO
(5) Growth and Development : (a) Meaning and measurement of growth; Growth,
distribution and Welfare; (b) Characteristics of underdevelopment; (c) Stages of
Development; (d) Sources of growth-capital, Human capital, population, productivity, Trade
and aid, non-economic factors; growth Strategies, (e) Planning in a mixed economyIndicative planning-Planning and growth.
(6) Economic Statistics : Types of averages-measures of dispersion-correlation-Index
numbers; types, uses and limitations.
Part-II
Indian Economics
1. Main features; Geographic size-Endowment of natural resources, Population; size,
composition quality and growth trend-Occupational distribution-Effects of British Rule with
reference to Drain theory and Laissez Faire policy.
2. Major problems, their dimensions, nature and broad causes; Mass poverty-Unemployment
and its types-Economics effects of population pressure-Inequality and types thereof-Low
productivity and low per capita income, Rural-urban disparities-Foreign Trade and payments
imbalances. Balance of Payments and External Debt- Inflation, and parallel economy and its
effects-Fiscal deficit.

3. Growth in income and employment since Independence-Rate, Pattern, Sectoral trendsDistributional Changes-Regional disparities.
4. Economic Planning in India : Major controversies on planning in India-Alternative
strategies-goals and achievements, shortfalls of different plans-planning and the Market.
5. Broad Fiscal, monetary, industrial trade and agricultural policies-objectives, rationale,
constraints and effects.

General Studies - Compulsory

of Part B - Main Examination of Civil Services Exam

General Guidelines:
The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers will be such that a welleducated 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 succi
nct answers.

PAPER - I
1.

History of Modern India and Indian Culture

The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of
nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped
the freedom movement and social reforms. The part relating to Indian culture will cover all
aspects of Indian culture from the ancient to modern times as well as principal features of
literature, arts and architecture.
2.

Geography of India

In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and social geography of India.
3.

Constitution of India and Indian Polity

This part will include questions on the Constitution of India as well as all constitutional,
legal, administrative and other issues emerging from the politico-administrative system
prevalent in the country.

4.

Current National Issues and Topics of Social Relevance

This part is intended to test the candidate's awareness of current national issues and topics of
social relevance in present-day India, such as the following:
(i)
The Indian economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of
resources, growth, development and employment.
(ii)
Issues arising from the social and economic exclusion of large sections from
the benefits of development.
(iii)

Other issues relating to the development and management of human resource.

(iv)
Health issues including the management of Public Health, Health education
and ethical concerns regarding health-care, medical research and pharmaceuticals.
(v) Law enforcement, internal security and related issues such as the preservation of
communal harmony.
(vi)
Issues relating to good governance and accountability to the citizens
including the maintenance of human rights, and of probity in public life.
(vii)

Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural

resources and national heritage.

PAPER - II
1.

India and the World

This part will include questions to test candidate's awareness of India's relationship
with the world in various spheres such as the following:Foreign Affairs with special emphasis on Indias relations with neighbouring
countries and in the region.
Security and defence related matters.
Nuclear policy, issues, and conflicts.
The Indian Diaspora and its contribution to India and the world.

2.

Indias Economic Interaction with the World

In this part, questions will be on economic and trade issues such as foreign trade,
foreign investment; economic and diplomacy issues relating to oil, gas and energy

flows; the role and functions of I.M.F., World Bank, W.T.O., WIPO etc. which
influence Indias economic interaction with other countries and international
institutions.
3.

Developments in the Field of Science & Technology, IT and space

In this part, questions will test the candidate's awareness of the developments in the
field of science and technology, information technology, space and basic ideas about
computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and related issues regarding
intellectual property rights.

4.

International Affairs and Institutions

This part will include questions on important events in world affairs and on
international institutions.

5.

Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams

This part will test the candidate's ability to draw conclusions from information
presented in statistical, graphical or diagrammatical form and to interpret them.

Economics - Optional
of Part B - Main Examination of Civil Services Exam

PAPER I
1.

2.

Advanced Micro Economics:

(a)

Marshallian and Walrasiam Approaches to Price determination.

(b)

Alternative Distribution Theories: Ricardo, Kaldor, Kaleeki

(c)

Markets Structure: Monopolistic Competition, Duopoly, Oligopoly.

(d)

Modern Welfare Criteria: Pareto Hicks & Scitovsky,

Impossibility Theorem, A.K. Sens Social Welfare Function.

Arrows

Advanced Macro Economics:

Approaches to Employment Income and Interest Rate determination: Classical, Keynes (ISLM) curve, Neo classical synthesis and New classical, Theories of Interest Rate
determination and Interest Rate Structure.
3.

Money - Banking and Finance:

4.

5.

(a)

Demand for and Supply of Money: Money Multiplier Quantity Theory of

Money (Fisher, Pique and Friedman) and Keynes Theory on Demand for
Money, Goals and Instruments of Monetary Management in Closed and Open
Economies. Relation between the Central Bank and the Treasury. Proposal for
ceiling on growth rate of money.

(b)

Public Finance and its Role in Market Economy: In stabilization of

supply, allocation of resources and in distribution and development. Sources of
Govt. revenue, forms of Taxes and Subsidies, their incidence and effects.
Limits to taxation, loans, crowding-out effects and limits to borrowings.
Public Expenditure and its effects.

International Economics:
(a)

Old and New Theories of International Trade

(i)

Comparative Advantage

(ii)

Terms of Trade and Offer Curve.

(iii)

Product Cycle and Strategic Trade Theories.

(iv)

Trade as an engine of growth and theories of under development in

an open economy.

(b)

Forms of Protection: Tariff and quota.

(c)

Balance of Payments Adjustments: Alternative Approaches.

(i)

Price versus income, income adjustments under fixed exchange rates,

(ii)

Theories of Policy Mix

(iii)

Exchange rate adjustments under capital mobility

(iv)

Floating Rates and their Implications for Developing Countries: Currency

Boards.

(v)

Trade Policy and Developing Countries.

(vi)

BOP, adjustments and Policy Coordination in open economy macro-model.

(vii)

Speculative attacks

(viii)

Trade Blocks and Monetary Unions.

(ix)

WTO: TRIMS, TRIPS, Domestic Measures, Different Rounds of WTO talks.

Growth and Development:

(a)

(i)

Theories of growth: Harrods model,

(ii)

Lewis model of development with surplus labour

(iii)

Balanced and Unbalanced growth,

(iv)

Human Capital and Economic Growth.

(v)

Research and Development and Economic Growth

(b)

Process of Economic Development of Less developed countries: Myrdal and

Kuzments on economic development and structural change: Role of
Agriculture in Economic Development of less developed countries.

(c)

Economic development and International Trade and Investment, Role of

Multinationals.

(d)

Planning and Economic Development: changing role of Markets and Planning,

Private- Public Partnership

(e)

Welfare indicators and measures of growth - Human Development Indices.

The basic needs approach.

(f)

Development and Environmental Sustainability - Renewable and Non

Renewable Resources, Environmental Degradation, Intergenerational equity
development.

Total number of questions in the question papers of optional subjects will be eight. All questions
will carry equal marks. Each paper will be divided into two parts, viz. Part A and Part B, each
part containing four questions. Out of eight questions, five questions are to be attempted. One
question in each part will be compulsory. Candidates will be required to answer three more
questions out of the remaining six questions, taking at least one question from each part. In this
way, at least two questions will be attempted from each Part i.e. one compulsory question plus
one more.

English and Indian Languagues - Compulsory

of Part B - Main Examination of Civil Services Exam

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive
prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary
(iv) Short Essay

Indian Languages
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essay
(v) Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa.
Note 1 : The Papers on Indian languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent
standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be
counted for ranking.
Note 2 : The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in
English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).