Paper I — Essay

Candidates will be required to write essays on multiple topics. They are expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay, arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

General Studies Paper I

Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

• • Indian culture — Art Forms, literature and Architecture
• • Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present)
• • The Freedom Struggle — stages & contributors
• • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization
• • History of the world (18th century onwards)
• • Salient features of Indian Society & Diversity
• • Role of women, population, poverty, urbanization
• • Effects of globalization on Indian society
• • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
• • World’s physical geography
• • Distribution of key natural resources
• • Important Geophysical phenomena

General Studies Paper II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

• • Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, features, amendments, basic structure
• • Functions & responsibilities of the Union and the States
• • Separation of powers & dispute redressal mechanisms
• • Comparison with other countries’ constitutional schemes
• • Parliament and State legislatures
• • Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
• • Representation of People’s Act
• • Constitutional Bodies & quasi-judicial bodies
• • Government policies and interventions
• • Development processes & role of NGOs, SHGs
• • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
• • Issues relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
• • Governance, transparency, e-governance, RTI
• • Role of civil services in a democracy
• • India and its neighborhood relations
• • Bilateral, regional and global groupings
• • Important International institutions

General Studies Paper III

Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

• • Indian Economy — planning, growth, development, employment
• • Inclusive growth
• • Government Budgeting
• • Major crops, irrigation, agricultural marketing, subsidies, MSP
• • Public Distribution System
• • Food processing industries
• • Land reforms in India
• • Effects of liberalization & industrial policy
• • Infrastructure — Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways
• • Science and Technology — developments & applications
• • Achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenization
• • IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology
• • Conservation, environmental pollution & degradation
• • Disaster and disaster management
• • Linkages between development and extremism
• • Internal security challenges
• • Cyber security, money-laundering
• • Border management & organized crime
• • Security forces and their mandate

General Studies Paper IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• • Ethics and Human Interface
• • Human Values — lessons from leaders, reformers, administrators
• • Attitude — content, structure, function
• • Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service
• • Emotional intelligence — concepts and application
• • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers
• • Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration
• • Probity in Governance
• • Information sharing, RTI, Codes of Ethics/Conduct, Citizen’s Charters
• • Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds
• • Case Studies on above issues