IAS Preparation: Guidance and Strategies with reference books

UPSC Prelims Exam 2015 – Syllabus

The Preliminary Examination shall now comprise of two compulsory Papers of 200 marks each and of two hours duration each. Detailed below is the new syllabus and pattern of the Preliminary Examination, which is brought to the notice of the prospective candidates intending to appear at the Civil Services Examination (CSE) in 2011 onwards:

Paper I (General Studies) – (200 marks) Duration: Two hours

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

Qualifying 

Paper II (CSAT)- (200 marks) Duration: Two hours

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. -Class X level)
• English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
• Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level

Following are some important NOTES Related to CSAT Paper II

NOTE 1:-  Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

NOTES 2:- The question will be of multiple choice, objective type.

NOTES 3:- It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Paper of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination.

• The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
  A set of sample questions for both Papers would be put on the UPSC websitehttp://www.upsc.gov.in in due course for reference of the prospective candidates.
• The prospective candidates are advised to note that no changes are being introduced at this stage in the Civil Services (Main) Examination and Personality Test in the scheme of Civil Services Examination (CSE).

Civil Services (Prelim) Examination BOOKS.

Essential IAS Books For UPSC Prelims

1.       History Of Modern India – Bipan Chandra. (History)

2.       India’s Struggle For Independence – Bipan Chandra. (History)

3.       India’s Ancient Past – R.S. Sharma. (History)

4.       History Of Medieval India – Satish Chandra. (History)

5.       The Wonder That Was India – A.L. Bhasham. (Culture)

6.       Facets of Indian Culture – Spectrum. (Culture)

7.       Geography of India – Majid Husain. (Geography)

8.       Oxford School Atlas – Oxford. (Geography)

9.       Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong. (Geography)

10.   Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth. (Polity)

11.   Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh. (Economy)

12.   Economic Survey (2014-15). (Economy)

13.   Science and Technology in India – TMH. (Science and Technology)

14.   Environmental Studies from Crisis to Cure 2nd Edition – R.Rajagoplan. (Environment)

15.   Efforts Towards Green India – Environment and Ecology – Arihant Experts. (Environment)

16.   India Year Book (Current Affairs)

17.   Manorama Yearbook. (Current Affairs)

18.   CSAT Paper – 2 Manual by TMH or CSAT-II – Arihant (CSAT – Paper 2: All Topics)

19.   Analytical Reasoning – M. K. Pandey (CSAT – Paper 2: Analytical Reasoning)

20.   Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R. S.Aggarwal (CSAT Paper 2: Reasoning)