CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION PREPARATION

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Ability to handle the surprise element, understanding of basic concepts and simplifying the general studies part could be the key to success in the Civil Services Main exam.
The only strategy for a successful candidate would be to simplify the task of preparing for the examination. According to feedback from candidates who have emerged successful in the previous civil services examinations, the candidates who were able to handle the element of surprise in the question paper were able to perform better.

“Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to continue testing the analytical mindset of candidates in this main exam too,” says R. Sudahar, an official of the Indian Police Service (IPS), who continues to guide civil service aspirants. A chunk of the questions will be based on the application of a concept in the syllabus, he adds. Last year, only a small percentage of candidates were able to score more than 300 out of 600 in the General Studies papers.

Most candidates would have worked hard on optional subjects but simplifying the general studies component is the key to success.

Most candidates forget the first sentence mentioned by the UPSC as part of the general guidelines of the examination. It reads: “The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialised study.”

So the candidates who had scored more than 300 in the General Studies papers would be those with good understanding of the subjects they had studied at the secondary and higher secondary school level. They do not require any specialised study in any of the subjects for the general studies.

The NCERT books of history, geography, polity, economy and statistics would be useful for revising the syllabus for the main examination.

IGNOU materials of optional subjects could be used for understanding the basic concepts for the General Studies and the optional subjects. The candidate would require “basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyse, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands,” according to the general guidelines given by the UPSC on General Studies papers. “The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.”

In paper I of the general studies, questions on history of modern India and Indian culture generally carries around 60-75 marks. Reading IGNOU material and NCERT books on history of the country from about the middle of 19th century is one of the suggestions given by successful candidates.

The questions on Geography of India carry around 80 marks and candidates may revise basic NCERT books covering physical, economic and social geography of India.

Questions carrying around 90 marks are usually being asked on topics such as the Constitution of India and Indian polity. Current national issues and topics of social relevance are generally being covered from those reported by broadsheet newspapers.

Last year, around 50 per cent of the questions, including those pertaining to science and technology, were based on reports by broadsheets such as The Hindu. “Reading editorials of The Hindu helped me in answering questions on polity and social issues,” said S. Selvanagarathinam, a successful candidate in the previous examination. Broadsheet newspapers continue to rule supreme in paper II of the general studies too.

Questions on India and the world carry 50-60 marks, India's economic interaction with the world 75-90 marks, developments in the field of science and technology, IT and space 50-85 marks and international affairs and institutions about 50 marks.

Candidates with commerce, statistics or mathematics background are expected to answer questions for around 40 marks on statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams at the beginning of the examination.

ABOUT CIVILS SERVICE

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The Collector and SP are the nerve centres in administration,civil power to make a positive change in the lives of the people and play a prominent role in the decision making which effect the common man, having greater responsibility gives high degree of social prestige and status as it gives power, prestige and position along with descently paid employment opportunity with good fecilities ,with more job security and gives opportunity to be part of the decision making process. Even an average student can qualify this exam. The success in this exam depends on how you write the UPSC papers and not on your percentage of marks in the college and but you should be prepared to do spent time on learning things.

The civilservice exam we have to pass through three stages to qualify for any service .The three stages are preliminary, mains and interview conducted in the month of the may ,in the months of october and november and in month of the march and april respectively

(A) Tentative Schedule
(i) Notification of Examination : November/December of previous year
(ii) Conduct of Examination: May
(B) Age - limits:

General candidates: 21-30 years as on 1st August of the year of Examination.

3 years relaxation for OBC, 5 years relaxation for SC/ST

NOTE: No of attempts are ristricted OC: 4 attempts

OBC:7 attempts

SC/ST: No.Restriction

CAUTION: Don't waste your attempts

There is a tendency among candidates to write the first attempt or second very causually without much serious preparation.Avoid this temptation of saying that i have many attempts and I'am young .Give your best shot each and every time. Write the exam only if you have seriously prepared for it. Do not waste your attempt. This is specially applied to candidates from reserved category. The earlier you enter the service better are your chances to reach the topmost of the services

Advise: Write each attempt as it is your last attempt.

Attempt counts when: 1.Attempt at preliminary examination, only applying for the examination is not an attempt

2.Even if the candidate appears for the one paper of the examination counted as an attempt

3.Appearence of the candidate at the examination will count as an attempt

(C) Educational Qualification :

Degree of a Recognised University or equivalent.,Candidates appearing in the requisite Degree qualification are also eligible for appearing in the examination, however, they are supposed to submit proof of passing the requisite qualification along with with Detailed Application Form for Civil Services (Main) Examination.

NOTE: The UPSC does not distinguish between candidates from Open Universities and those from regular institutions, as the only eligibility criteria is a reqquirement of graduation.

Scheme of CS (Preliminary) Examination:
The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple-choice questions) carrying a maximum of 450 marks. The Question Papers (Test Booklets) are set in English & Hindi

Paper - I
General Studies 150 Marks

Paper - II
One of the optional subjects to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects : 300 Marks

Mains Examination: Tentative Date of Examination : October - November

Scheme

List of Optional Subjects : CS (Main) - (Total 25)

List of Optional Subjects (Literature):- CS (Main) - (Total 26)

NOTE: It is not necessary for a candidate to take take the same optional subject in the main exam, which he had taken in the prelims examination.

Statistical Data

For more information click here

PCI

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IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT WEBSITES

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INDIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITES

President of India
Rajya Sabha
Supreme Court of India
Vice President of India
Lok Sabha
High Courts of India
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
State Legislatures
District Courts of India
National Website of Income Tax Department
Central Board of Direct Taxes

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Income Tax Department, Delhi
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)
Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices
Income Tax Department, Mumbai
Central Information Commission
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Company Law Board
Air India
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Central Excise and Service Tax Appelate Tribunal
Airport Authority of India
Ministry of Defence
Central Excise and Service Tax Appelate Tribunal
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
Ministry of External Affairs
Income Tax Appelate Tribunal
Central Warehousing Corporation
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Income Tax Appelate Tribunal Jaipur
Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Limited
Ministry of Finance
Department of Justice
Indian Airlines Limited
Ministry of Home Affairs
Law Commision of India
National Cooperative Development Corporation
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Intellectual Property Appellate Board
National Cooperative Housing Federation of India
Ministry of Law and Justice
Central Administrative Tribunal
National Cooperative Union of India
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Competition Commision of India
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Indian Courts
Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

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