Civil Services Exam (Preliminary)/Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Civil Services Exam (Preliminary)/Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT)


From 2011 onwards UPSE has changed the pattern of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
 Now students will be tested with a Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) which focuses on analytical abilities rather than their ability to memorise.


The examination system of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is updated from time to time to keep it in harmony with the changing environment. In regard to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) the Prime Minister has approved the proposal for introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in place of the existing Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. The CSAT is expected to come into effect from Civil Services Examination, 2011. This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha. The current pattern of the civil services preliminary exams was conceived in 1979 on the recommendations of the.[1] Since then, for 41 years, the preliminary pattern sustained with only some minor changes once in ten or fifteen years. But from 2011 onwards, civil services aspirants should prepare themselves for a sea change in how they prepare for the preliminary examination as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has received the Union Government's approval for introducing the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern.


CSAT will have two papers common to all candidates with no optional paper There will be a paper to test the candidate's aptitude for the prestigious civil services from the ethical and moral dimension More emphasis on understanding and analysis than memorizing


From Civil Service Examination 2011, Preliminary Examination would consist of two papers- 
Paper I and Paper II. 


The syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination would be as under:

(Paper 1) (200 marks) - Duration : Two hrs.

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 donot require subject specialization
7. General science.

(Paper II) (200 marks) – Duration : Two hrs

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision making and problem solving
5. General mental ability
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. - Class X level),
7. Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level)
8. English language comprehension skills (Class X level)

It is possible that in the coming years there can be some more changes in the format.

CIVIL SERVICES(MAINS EXAM)

Civil Services (Mains) examination
The Main Examination will consist of a written examination and a subsequent interview.
The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type model. The range of questions may vary from just two marks to thirty marks, twenty words to 600 words answers.
Marks
General studies Paper I: 300
Paper II: 300
English language Single paper 300 (Matric level) only Eligibility in nature
Indian language single paper 300 (Matric level) only Eligibility in nature
Essay single paper 200
Optional Subject I Paper I 300
Optional Subject I Paper II 300
Optional Subject II Paper I 300
Optional Subject II Paper II 300
Total marks 2000

Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview or a Personality Test.

TOPIC WISE REFERENCES ON GENERAL STUDIES

Topic Wise Reference On General Studies

Books on Indian History & Culture:

*NCERT (+ 2 level) — Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India.

*Publication Division : Gazetteer of India (Vol 2 : History & Culture)

*Gandhi Nehru Tagore & Ambedkar — Gopal Krishna
*Bipin Chandra - Modern India 
*A.C.Banerjee - History of Modern India Raghavan Aiyer — Mahatma Gandhi

Books on Geography:
*NCERT : Physical Geography of India for X - XII Std
*A Good School Atlas
*Sharma & Cotinho : Economic and Commercial Geography of India.
*Khullar : India- A Comprehnsive Geography
*Charles Farro : General Principles of World Geography 
*Charles Farro : Monsoon Asia Reports published by Centre for Science and Enviornment And *Tata Energy Research Institute
*National journal - Kurukshetra, Yojana etc.
*Down to earth

Books on Indian Economy:
*NCERT (+1 level)—Evolution of Indian Economy(I C Dhingra).
*Mishra & Puri or Dutt & Sundaram - Indian Economy
*Economic Survey
*The Economic Times,Business Standard
*Yojana

Books on Social and National Issues :
*Social Problem - Ram Ahuja
*Social Welfare Magazine - Published by ministry of social welfare
*Yojana/Kurukshetra
*IIPa Journal

Books on Indian Polity:
*NCERT (+1 level)—Indian Political System
*N.L. Madan : Bhartiya Rajya Vyavastha
*D.D. Basu—Indian Constitution
*Kashyap—Constitution of India
*Publication Division—Subhash C. Kashyap : Our Parliament
*P.M. Bakshi—Indian Constitution
*Our Constitution : Subhash C. kashyap
*Perspective on Constitution : S.C. Kashyap
*Frontline Magazine
*IIPa Journal

Books on Science & Technology:
*NCERT : (10 level) : Science, (+2 level) : Biology.
*Popular Science Series (CSIR)
*Reports Of the Ministry of Science and Technology Yojana
*Science Reporter
*Science and Technology in India - Spectrum


Books on Statistics:
*(NCERT +1 level) Elementary Statistics
*S.C.Gupta : Statistical Methods 

Books on India and the World :
*Journal of peace Studies
*World Focus
*Strategic Analysis
*South Asian Journal

Other Books for General Studies:
1.India Year Book latest
2.One competitive Magazine
3.Guides like Tata Mc Graw Hill, Spectrum or Unique For General Reference 

4. The Pearson General Studies Manual

AGRICULTURAL BOOKS

AGRICULTURAL BOOKS FOR IAS

agriculture 

agriculture workers

Agriculture-Building Soils for Better Crops, 2nd Edition 

IAS PREPARATION-VERY USEFUL FOR THE BEGINNERS

This blog is very useful for the ias aspirants,all the ias aspirants are adviced to read this blog for the sake of their bright future.

 To become an IAS OFFICER is a dream of lacks n lacks of people but actually  only few succed in it.
Its a hard truth of life.


Before i start telling u about IAS exam,  i advice u all to  first listen to this very highly motivational and truelly inspirational speech by 

  R LALITHA,IAS 

 ALL INDIA RANK-12 

TAMIL NADU RANK-1

  CSE 2009 BATCH 

 

R LALITHA,IAS

 It is a dream of many to get in to the civil service. One needs to prepare well for the exams. Once a person passes these exams, success is sure shot. Civil service exams are given by individuals who want to become civil servants, i.e. work for the government. It is very important to pass the exams in order to get a job in local, state and federal level. The syllabus is not that vast, but one needs to know all the facts and figures required. One of the most preferred career options is of IAS, Indian administrative service, which ensures high pays and a secure future.

Civil service exams are conducted and prepared by a special panel of bureaucrats. Getting into civil service is like a dream come true. The respect given to one, at any post after passing these exams is beyond any body’s imagination. The civil exams are divided in to two parts: the main and the prelims. One can only get into the main exams after passing the prelims. So prelims are very important to prepare for. The syllabus is not vast but be clear and through with whatever you are preparing. If you are preparing for IAS, you need to keep certain factors in mind during preparation of the entrance exam:
One has to choose subjects for the prelims, for this you have to be very careful. History, maths and geography have been proved to be much scoring, go for subjects you think will help you score well. Prepare the syllabus well and thoroughly. Also while reading the syllabus, make sure the reading material is easily available and have proper guidance.
You can not, by any chance pass the IAS exam if you are weak on the current affairs and general knowledge quotient. You have to read newspapers, magazines, listen to news, be updated with the recent happenings and the important events and incidents that have taken place. If you are not sure, take as many quizzes as possible.
They also judge your Basic English. One has to be aware and well versed with the grammar and comprehension skills. Vocabulary is also an important part.

IAS-Topper-2011-S-Divya-Darshini-Photo

 

 The main syllabus in general studies of IAS entrance exam includes:
Constitution of India
Economics
Current affairs
Geography
History
 Science

These factors have to be kept in mind during IAS exam preparation tips or any other civil service exam preparation.
Current affairs are a must in the syllabus of any competitive exam.


ALL THE VERY BEST TO ALL THE ASPIRANTS

OBJECTIVE OF INTERVIEW

Objective of interview 
 The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own state or country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth

MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum educational qualifications
Minimum qualification is a degree from a recognised university under the 10+2+3 scheme alone eligible.
Degree received through Correspondence Education or Distance Education is also eligible
Open University degree with 10-th standard eligible.
Candidates who have appeared at their final year an examination the passing of which would render them educationally candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination will also be eligible for admission to the Preliminary Examination.
All candidates who are declared qualified for the Commission’s examination but have not been informed of the results as also the by the Commission for taking the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite examination with their application for the Main Examination failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination.
Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S. or any other Medical Examination but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Examination

AGE LIMITS

Minimum and maximum age limits

Prescribed age limits are minimum 21 years and maximum of 30 years as on 1 August of the year of Examination. As on 1 August candidates should not have attained or completed 30 years. In case on that day a candidate whose age is 29 years and 360 days means still he is qualified to take the examination. 1 August to 1 August is the criteria. Those who are in 20s should have attained 21 and those who are in 30s should not have attained 30 years.

Age relaxation
The upper age limit prescribed will be relaxable to General Category and the OBC candidates come under the category of creamy layer.
The upper age limit prescribed will be relaxable to OBC candidates’ up to a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.
The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.
The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and orthopaedically handicapped persons.

NUMBER OF PERMISSIBLE ATTEMPTS

Numbers of attempts permissible
*To General category and those OBC candidates falls under the category of    Creamy Layer will have only four attempts.
*To OBC category seven attempts are given.
*To SCs/STs, there is no limit on the number of attempts.  
How these candidates are requested to bear upon mind generally it is believed that, those who took many attempts*An attempt at a Preliminary Examination shall be deemed to be an attempt at the Examination.
If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination, he/she shall be deemed to have made an attempt at the Examination.
Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt.
Candidates just applied but not appeared at the exam is not an attempt.

TIPS FOR IAS EXAM

Tips for IAS Exams 

1. Be very particular about the subject you choose for prelims, as you will be appearing for an objective type of paper. History, maths, geography may prove to be very scoring. Choose subjects which have availability of books, reading material and guidance. In recent years engineering subjects like civil and electrical can be chosen, giving BEs and IITians an edge (yes! even here they are giving the BAs and BScs a tough fight!)

2. G.K. will definitely pay in your prelims. Reading newspapers, watching TV news and of course quiz shows like KBC is a must.

3. If you have been lucky enough to reach the interview stage book knowledge may not be the only thing you need. Your mental alertness will count as they ask you questions like “How many steps did you walk up to reach here?” or “ What is the colour of the wall behind you ?” - So be prepared.

4. Enhance your personality because it will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. For IPS physical wellbeing is of great importance, you should be medically fit.

5. Improve your communication skills. IFS aspirants must be proficient in at least one foreign language. So go ahead, have your say in this political mess of our country and try to make it a better place.

TIPS on IAS

To prepare for certain specific topics in GS , i.e. Anthropology. Today, through regular interaction with the UPSC experts and students all over India, particularly at Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, You find myself in a favourable position to pen down my experiences and suggestions to the young aspirants. In the early eighties, there were three (Delhi, Allahabad and Patna) major centre of UPSC related activities, while Hyderabad was coming up fast. There used to be 40 to 60 thousand contenders for the coveted posts. Today, while the number of aspirants has risen by over 200 percent, many new centres have come up in almost every state capital and many other major cities. In those days professionals did not see any merit in contention for these jobs, but recent years have witnessed a flood of such aspirants, at times sweeping the top positions in the merit list. In those days History, Sociology, Political Science etc. used to be the most popular optionals while today, many hitherto less known subjects have taken over. Besides, many states have changed their pattern of PCS examination in line with UPSC examination. This change in the scenario, resultant of a number of factors, demands that the serious contenders to the job must adopt a more rational, more systematic strategy and approach, right from the moment they think of preparing for the civil services examination.

On the first thought of appearing in the Civil Services Examination (C.S.E.), the first issue is the selection of optionals. In a way, selection of right optionals is the most crucial step. Post-graduates in any discipline, generally prefer taking up their parent subject for Prelims. Though such selection is quite logical, aspirants with any science discipline as their base subject must ponder over the issue more seriously. Maths, Physics, Geology etc., optionals for Prelims must be opted for, only if one is out and out thorough with the subject. As UPSC ensures that ’some’ candidates from every discipline must qualify for the Mains, aspirants with a science subject must judge themselves correctly regarding their own capability to be included in these ’some’. Some of the social sciences (e.g. History, Sociology and Public Administration) opted by quite a significant majority can, however, be a much safer bet, particularly for those (ordinary science graduates) who do not have any specific parent subject or for those who are not able to develop confidence in their parental subject. In either case, the formal preparation must start from the basic fundamentals, even if a person is already a post-graduate in that subject.

General Studies (GS) has to be prepared on quite a different plane because the content of this paper is too spread out and because any issue, major or minor, can be asked objectively. Traditionally, 10 + 2 level books of NCERT or any state education board had been covering a major part of the content but, these days, the items in news during the last one year or so, are being asked quite frequently. Problems are generally faced in everyday science (by the candidates with social sciences background) or in mental ability or in the fundamentals of economics. The most important aspect for the preparation of GS Prelims, therefore, is to identify the loop-holes and plug them urgently.

Many of you prepare a subject in terms of “reading” (once, twice, thrice etc.) with or without underlining the important facts. It results not only in longer time of preparation, but also many important points may skip. Also, even if you underline the highlighting points, most of you have the tendency to read the text in full while going for the subsequent readings. It is, therefore, advisable that texts must be read once and all important points (likely to be forgotten) recorded separately so that you need not study volumious texts again. This would save on your time and should result in greater efficiency. The Mains: For right approach, the preparation of Mains should start before or at least concurrent with Prelims. Just because you have to prepare for Essay, GS and the two optionals (English and a regional language, the one/two other compulsory, do not require a separate preparation) you never get enough time (to prepare for all these) after the declaration of Prelims’ results. Further, while Prelims is only a screening test, it is on the basis of your performance in Mains, on which mainly depends the final outcome of your efforts. Strategically, therefore, the preparation for the examination should start about one year in advance and you should think about appearing in the Prelims only when you have had a strong grip over the Mains’ subject matter.

public administration books

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION BOOKS FOR IAS
 

*Public administration in theory and practice - M.P. Sharma and B.L Sadan 

*Public administration - Mohit Bhattacharya 
 
*Modern public administration - Nigro and Nigro 
 
*Theories and principles of administration : Administrative thinkers - Prasad  & Prasad 
 
*Principles of management - Terry and Frankline 
 
*Administrative Behaviors: Managing organizational behavior - Paul Hersey    & Kenneth Blanchard 
 
*Personal Administration - Public personal administration - O. Glennstal 
 
*Financial administration: Financial administration of India - M.J.K.  Thavaray 
 
*Comparative administration : public administration a comparative    perspective - Ferrel Heady or Comparative public administration - Ramesh 
 
*Control over administration : Public administration - Avasthi & Maheswari 
 
*Central administration in India: Central administration - A. Avasthi 
 
*Civil Services in India : Indian administration - S.R. Maheswari, State 
 
*District and local administration: State administration - J.D. Shukla 
 
*District administration -- S. S. Khera 
 
*Local Government in India - S.R. Maheshwari 
 
*Laxmikant's guide (for clearing conepts) 
 
*IGNOU Study Materials 
 
*IJPA articles on relevant topics 
 
*Current News Papers 

 BEST RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR IAS

1Indian History -India Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra;

                               NCERT Books (XI & XII )

2. Geography -Spectrum
3. Indian Polity -Constitution of India by Bakshi
4. Indian Economy-Plus One, Plus Two Books, Pratiyogita Darpan
5. General Science-Tata Mc Graw Hill Guide
6. Mental Ability -Quantitative Apitude by R.S. Aggarwal
7. Current Affairs - Some magazines and Newspapers
                                    i. The Hindu/The Times of India
                                    ii. Frontline
                                    iii. Civil Service Chronicle
                                    iv. Chanakya
                                    v. Competition WIZARD
                                    vi. Civil Services Today 
8. Guides-
                  1. Tata Mc Graw Hill
                  2. Spectrum
                  3. Unique