IAS Gs Mains Syllabus

7/28/2019 IAS Gs Mains Syllabus

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GS MAINS SYLLABUS UPSC 2013

PAPER-I

SECTION- 1 200 MARKSEssay: 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.

SECTION- 2 100 MARKS

English Comprehension & English Precis will be to test the English language Comprehension and

English prcis writing skills (at 10th standard level).

PAPER-II 250 MARKS

General Studies- I: 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 fromancient 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 differentparts 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 likecommunism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.

6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.7. Role of women and womens organization, population and associated issues, poverty and

developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

8. Effects of globalization on Indian society9. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.10.Salient features of worlds physical geography.11.Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian

subcontinent); 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

waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.


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PAPER-III 250 MARKS

General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significantprovisions and basic structure.

2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining tothe 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 countries5. 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 andDepartments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their

role in the Polity.7. Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act.8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various9. Constitutional Bodies.10.Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies11.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, variousgroups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

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

protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

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

Indias interests

21.Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Indias interests,Indian diaspora.

22.Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.


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PAPER-IV 250 MARKS

General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity,

Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

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

2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.3. Government Budgeting.4. 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

5. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; PublicDistribution

6. System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;7. Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.8. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and

downstream requirements, supply chain management.

9. Land reforms in India.10.Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on

industrial growth.

11.Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.12.Investment models.13.Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life14.Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developingnew technology.15.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and

issues relating to intellectual property rights.

16.Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment17.Disaster and disaster management.18.Linkages between development and spread of extremism.19.Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.20.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 prevention21.Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with

terrorism

22.Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate


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PAPER-V 250 MARKS

General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

Th is paper wi l l include questions to test the candidates atti tude and approach to issues relating to

in tegri ty, probity in publi c li fe and his problem solving approach to various issues and confl icts facedby him in dealing wi th society. Questions may uti l ise the case study approach to determine these

aspects. The foll owing broad areas wil l be covered.

1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values lessons from the

lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and

educational institutions in inculcating values.

2. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moraland political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

3. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship,objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the

weakersections.

4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration andgovernance.

5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.6. 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; ethical issues in international relations and funding;

corporate governance.7. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;8. Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics,

Codes of

9. Conduct, Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of publicfunds, challenges of corruption.

10.Case Studies on above issues.


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PAPER-VI

GEOGRAPHYPAPERI 250 MARKS

PRINCIPLES OF GEOGRAPHY

Physical Geography:

1. Geomorphology:

1. Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces;2. Origin and evolution of the earths crust;3. Fundamentals of geomagnetism;4. Physical conditions of the earths interior;5. Geosynclines;6. Continental drift;7. Isostasy;8.

Plate tectonics;9. Recent views on mountain building;

10.Vulcanicity;11.Earthquakes and Tsunamis;12.Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development ;13.Denudation chronology;14.Channel morphology;15.Erosion surfaces;16.Slope development;17.Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment.

2. Climatology:

1. Temperature and pressure belts of the world;2. Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability.3. Planetary and local winds;4. Monsoons and jet streams;5. Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones;6. Types and distribution of precipitation;7. Weatherand Climate; Koppens, Thornthwaites and Trewarthas classification of world climates;8. Hydrological cycle;9. Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes,10.Applied climatology and Urban climate.

3. Oceanography:

1. Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans;2. Temperature and salinity of the oceans;3. Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits;4. Waves, currents and tides;5. Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources;6. Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sealevel changes;7. Law of the sea and marine pollution.


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4. Biogeography:

1. Genesis of soils;2. Classification and distribution of soils;3. Soil profile; Soil erosion, Degradation and conservation;4. Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals;5. Problems of deforestation and conservation measures;6. Social forestry; agro-forestry; Wild life;7. Major gene pool centres.

5. Environmental Geography:

1. Principle of ecology;2. Human ecological adaptations;3. Influence of man on ecology and environment;4. Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances;5. Ecosystem their management and conservation;6. Environmental degradation, management and conservation;7. Biodiversity and sustainable development;8. Environmental policy;9. Environmental hazards and remedial measures;10.Environmental education and legislation.

Human Geography:

1. Perspectives in Human Geography:

1. Areal differentiation; regional synthesis;2. Dichotomy and dualism;3. Environmentalism;4. Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical, behavioural, human and welfare

approaches;

5. Languages, religions and secularisation;6. Cultural regions of the world;7. Human development index.

2. Economic Geography:

1. World economic development: measurement and problems;2. World resources and their distribution;3. Energy crisis; the limits to growth;4. World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity;5. Food and nutrition problems;6. Food security; famine: causes, effects and remedies;7. World industries: locational patterns and problems; patterns of world trade.


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3. Population and Settlement Geography:

1. Growth and distribution of world population; demographic attributes;2. Causes and consequences of migration; concepts of over-under-and optimum population;3. Population theories, world population problems and policies,4. Social well-being and quality of life;5. Population as social capital.6. Types and patterns of rural settlements;7. Environmental issues in rural settlements;8. Hierarchy of urban settlements;9. Urban morphology: Concepts of primate city and rank-size rule;10.Functional classification of towns;11.Sphere of urban influence;12.Rural urban fringe;13.Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization;14.Sustainable development of cities.

4. Regional Planning:

1. Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalisation;2. Growth centres and growth poles;3. Regional imbalances; regional development strategies; environmental issues in regional planning;

Planning for sustainable development.

5. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography:

1. Systems analysis in Human geography; Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models;2. Central Place theories of Christaller and Losch;Perroux and Boudeville;3. Von Thunens model of agricultural location;4. Webers model of industrial location; Ostovs model of stages of growth.5. Heartland and Rimland theories; Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.


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PAPER VII

PAPERII 250 MARKS

GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA1. Physical Setting:

1. Space relationship of India with neighboring countries;2. Structure and relief; Drainage system and watersheds;3. Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and rainfall patterns,4. Tropical cyclones and western disturbances;5. Floods and droughts;6. Climatic regions;7. Natural vegetation;8. Soil types and their distributions.

2. Resources:

1. Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources;2. Forest and wild life resources and their conservation;3. Energy crisis.

3. Agriculture:

1. Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land holdings, land tenureand land reforms;

2. Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, landcapability;

3. Agro and social-forestry;4. Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications;5. Significance of dry farming;6. Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry;

agricultural regionalisation;

7. Agro-climatic zones;8. Agro- ecological regions.

4. Industry:

1. Evolution of industries;2. Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilizer, paper, chemical and

pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based industries; Industrial houses and complexesincluding public sector undertakings;

3. Industrial regionalisation;4. New industrial policies; Multinationals and liberalization;5. Special Economic Zones;6. Tourism including eco-tourism.


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5. Transport, Communication and Trade:

1. Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regionaldevelopment;

2. Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade;3. Trade balance;4. Trade Policy;5. Export processing zones;6. Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and

society;7. Indian space programme.

6. Cultural Setting:

1. Historical Perspective of Indian Society;2. Racial, linguistic and ethnic diversities;3. Religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions;4. Growth, distribution and density of population;5. Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio,

longevity; migration (inter-regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems;

6. Population problems and policies;7. Health indicators.

7. Settlements:

1. Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements;2. Urban developments;3. Morphology of Indian cities;4. Functional classification of Indian cities;5. Conurbations and metropolitan regions;6. urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; town planning;7. Problems of urbanization and remedies.

8. Regional Development and Planning:

1. Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year Plans; Integrated rural developmentprogrammes;

2. Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning;3. Command area development;4. Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert, drought prone, hill, tribal area

development; multi-level planning; Regional planning and development ofisland territories.

9. Political Aspects:

1. Geographical basis of Indian federalism;2. State reorganisation;3. Emergence of new states;4. Regional consciousness and inter state issues; international boundary of India and related issues;5. Cross border terrorism;6. Indias role in world affairs;7. Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm.


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10. Contemporary Issues: Ecological issues:

1. Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics;2. Issues relating to environmental pollution;3. Changes in patterns of land use;4. Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management;5. Population explosion and food security;6. Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion;7. Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest;8. Regional disparities in economic development;9. Concept of sustainable growth and development;10.Environmental awareness; Linkage of rivers;11.Globalisation and Indian economy.

NOTE: Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to subjects

covered by this paper.

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IAS Gs Mains Syllabus