Prelims

Paper I - 200 marks - Two hours

1. Current events of national and international importance.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the
World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public
Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do
not require subject specialization
7. General Science

Paper II - 200 marks - Two hours

8. Comprehension
9. Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
10. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
11. Decision making and problem solving
12. General mental ability
13. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level),
Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. - Class X level)
14. English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
15. Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last
item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language
only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper

Subject Marks
General studies four papers 1,000
Optional subject I & II Paper 500
Essay 250
English Paper 300 optional
Personality Test 275
One Indian Language 300 optional Total: 2025
Civil Services Mains Exam 2014 Syllabus

Qualifying English

(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).

Qualifying Hindi

The aim of the paper is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious
discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and 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.

Essay - 250 Marks

To be written in the medium or language of the candidate's choice - 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-I
250 Marks - 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 sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and
tertiary sector industries in various 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 water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of
such changes.
 Paper-II
250 Marks - Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and
International relations

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions and basic structure.

2. 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.

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

& privileges and issues arising out of these.

6. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries
and Departments of the

7. Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the
Polity.

8. Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.

9. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of

various Constitutional Bodies.

10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

11. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation.

12. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

13. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and
14. Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

15. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to

Health, Education, Human Resources.

16. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

17. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-

applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.

18. Role of civil services in a democracy.

19. India and its neighborhood- relations.

20. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or
affecting India's interests

21. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's
interests, Indian diaspora.

22. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
 PAPER - III
250 Marks - Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity,
environment, Security and Disaster Management

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

growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from
it.
2. Government Budgeting.
3. 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
4. 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;
5. economics of animal-rearing.
6. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
7. Land reforms in India.
8. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their
effects on industrial growth.
9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Investment models.
10. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in
everyday life
11. Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
12. indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
13. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology,
bio-technology and issues 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 networking sites 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-IV
250 Marks - Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

1. 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.
2. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of
Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public
relationships.
3. Human Values lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders,
reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational
institutions in inculcating values.
4. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought
and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
5. 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.
6. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance.
7. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
8. 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;
9. Ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
10. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of
governance and probity; Information
11. sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of
Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizens
12. Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public
funds, challenges of corruption.
13. Case Studies on above issues
Sociology Optional

Paper I

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
1. Sociology - The Discipline:
(a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology.
(b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.
(c) Sociology and common sense.
2. Sociology as Science:
(a) Science, scientific method and critique.
(b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology.
(c) Positivism and its critique.
(d) Fact value and objectivity.
(e) Non- positivist methodologies.
3. Research Methods and Analysis:
(a) Qualitative and quantitative methods.
(b) Techniques of data collection.
(c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.
4. Sociological Thinkers:
(a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class
struggle.
(b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and
society.
(c) Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant
ethic and the spirit of capitalism.
(d) Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables.
(e) Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance,
reference groups.
(f) Mead - Self and identity.
5. Stratification and Mobility:
(a) Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and
deprivation.
(b) Theories of social stratification- Structural functionalist theory, Marxist
theory, Weberian theory.
(c) Dimensions Social stratification of class, status groups, gender, ethnicity
and race.
(d) Social mobility- open and closed systems, types of mobility, sources and
causes of mobility.
6. Works and Economic Life:
(a) Social organization of work in different types of society- slave society,
feudal society, industrial /capitalist society.
(b) Formal and informal organization of work.
(c) Labour and society.
7. Politics and Society:
(a) Sociological theories of power.
(b) Power elite, bureaucracy, pressure groups, and political parties.
(c) Nation, state, citizenship, democracy, civil society, ideology.
(d) Protest, agitation, social movements, collective action, revolution.
8. Religion and Society:
(a) Sociological theories of religion.
(b) Types of religious practices: animism, monism, pluralism, sects, cults.
(c) Religion in modern society: religion and science, secularization, religious
revivalism, fundamentalism.
9. Systems of Kinship:
(a) Family, household, marriage.
(b) Types and forms of family.
(c) Lineage and descent.
(d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
(e) Contemporary trends.
 10. Social Change in Modern Society:
(a) Sociological theories of social change.
(b) Development and dependency.
(c) Agents of social change.
(d) Education and social change.
(e) Science, technology and social change.

Paper - II

INDIAN SOCIETY: STRUCTURE AND CHANGE

A. Introducing Indian Society:

(i) Perspectives on the study of Indian society:
(a) Indology (GS. Ghurye).
(b) Structural functionalism (M N Srinivas).
(c) Marxist sociology (A R Desai).
(ii) Impact of colonial rule on Indian society:
(a) Social background of Indian nationalism.
(b) Modernization of Indian tradition.
(c) Protests and movements during the colonial period.
(d) Social reforms.

B. Social Structure:
(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:
(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies.
(b) Agrarian social structure - evolution of land tenure system, land reforms.
(ii) Caste System:
(a) Perspectives on the study of caste systems: GS Ghurye, M N Srinivas, Louis
Dumont, Andre Beteille.
(b) Features of caste system.
(c) Untouchability - forms and perspectives.
(iii) Tribal communities in India:
(a) Definitional problems.
(b) Geographical spread.
(c) Colonial policies and tribes.
(d) Issues of integration and autonomy.
(iv) Social Classes in India:
(a) Agrarian class structure.
(b) Industrial class structure.
(c) Middle classes in India.
(v) Systems of Kinship in India:
(a) Lineage and descent in India.
(b) Types of kinship systems.
(c) Family and marriage in India.
(d) Household dimensions of the family.
(e) Patriarchy, entitlements and sexual division of labour.
(vi) Religion and Society:
(a) Religious communities in India.
(b) Problems of religious minorities.

C. Social Changes in India:

(i) Visions of Social Change in India:
(a) Idea of development planning and mixed economy.
(b) Constitution, law and social change.
(c) Education and social change.
(ii) Rural and Agrarian transformation in India:
(a) Programmes of rural development, Community Development Programme,
cooperatives, poverty alleviation schemes.
(b) Green revolution and social change.
(c) Changing modes of production in Indian agriculture .
(d) Problems of rural labour, bondage, migration.
(iii) Industrialization and Urbanisation in India:
(a) Evolution of modern industry in India.
(b) Growth of urban settlements in India.
(c) Working class: structure, growth, class mobilization.
(d) Informal sector, child labour.
(e) Slums and deprivation in urban areas.

(iv) Politics and Society:

(a) Nation, democracy and citizenship.
(b) Political parties, pressure groups , social and political elite.
(c) Regionalism and decentralization of power.
(d) Secularization

(v) Social Movements in Modern India:

(a) Peasants and farmers movements.
(b) Womens movement.
(c) Backward classes & Dalit movement.
(d) Environmental movements.
(e) Ethnicity and Identity movements.

(vi) Population Dynamics:

(a) Population size, growth, composition and distribution.
(b) Components of population growth: birth, death, migration.
(c) Population policy and family planning.
(d) Emerging issues: ageing, sex ratios, child and infant mortality, reproductive health.
(vii) Challenges of Social Transformation:
(a) Crisis of development: displacement, environmental problems and sustainability.
(b) Poverty, deprivation and inequalities.
(c) Violence against women.
(d) Caste conflicts.
(e) Ethnic conflicts, communalism, religious revivalism.
(f) Illiteracy and disparities in education.