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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Contents
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 7
CIVIL SERVICES IN INDIA ........................................................................................................ 8
History ................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Evolution of Civil Services in India before Independence ....................................................................................... 9
Evolution of Civil Services in India after Independence ........................................................................................ 10
Why Civil Services as a Career? ............................................................................................................................ 13
How to become Civil Servant ............................................................................................................................... 14
All India Services .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Union Public Service Commission ........................................................................................................................ 16
State Public Service Commission.......................................................................................................................... 17
ABOUT THE EXAMINATION .................................................................................................. 19
Number of Applications ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Number of Candidates Appeared ......................................................................................................................... 19
Candidates Interviewed ....................................................................................................................................... 20
Candidates Recommended .................................................................................................................................. 20
Reserve List.......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Highlights of Civil Services Examination, 2012 ..................................................................................................... 21
Women Candidate ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Persons with Disabilities ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Interviews ............................................................................................................................................................ 22
Indian Languages in the Main Examination .......................................................................................................... 23
Qualifications of Candidates ................................................................................................................................ 24
Applicants to Posts Ratio ..................................................................................................................................... 24
Recommended to Posts Ratio .............................................................................................................................. 24
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Scheme of Examination ....................................................................................................................................... 24
Notification .......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Preliminary Test ................................................................................................................................................... 25
Syllabus for IAS Preliminary Test ......................................................................................................................... 25
General Studies Paper I ...........................................................................................................................................25
General Studies Paper II (CSAT) ..............................................................................................................................25
Syllabus for IAS Main Exam .................................................................................................................................. 26
Qualifying Papers on Indian Language and English ................................................................................................27
General Studies Paper I - Syllabus...........................................................................................................................28
General Studies Paper II - Syllabus..........................................................................................................................29
General Studies Paper III - Syllabus.........................................................................................................................30
General Studies Paper IV - Syllabus ........................................................................................................................32
Optional Subject .................................................................................................................................................. 33
Interview Test ...................................................................................................................................................... 33
HOW TO PREPARE GENERAL STUDIES PAPER I ..................................................................... 34
Perspective building ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Evolving Trend ..................................................................................................................................................... 36
Understanding Syllabus ....................................................................................................................................... 37
Current Events of National and International Importance ................................................................................... 38
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-7 ...............................................................................................39
The History of India and Indian National Movement ........................................................................................... 41
Ancient History .................................................................................................................................................... 42
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-1 ...............................................................................................43
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-6 ...............................................................................................43
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-4 ...............................................................................................46
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-4 ...............................................................................................47
Art and Culture .................................................................................................................................................... 49
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-12...............................................................................................50
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-3 ...............................................................................................55
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-3 ...............................................................................................56
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-0 ...............................................................................................57
Medieval India ..................................................................................................................................................... 57
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-2 ...............................................................................................59
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-2 ...............................................................................................59
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-1 ...............................................................................................60
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-0 ...............................................................................................61
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Indian National Movement .................................................................................................................................. 61
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-5 ...............................................................................................62
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-6 ...............................................................................................64
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-12...............................................................................................66
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-9 ...............................................................................................71
India and World Geography ................................................................................................................................. 74
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-14...............................................................................................75
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-20...............................................................................................81
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-16...............................................................................................89
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions- 18...............................................................................................96
Indian Polity and Governance ............................................................................................................................ 104
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-17.............................................................................................105
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-17.............................................................................................110
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-11.............................................................................................117
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions 12 .............................................................................................122
Economic and Social Development, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics .................... 127
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-11.............................................................................................129
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-20.............................................................................................133
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-20.............................................................................................140
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-20.............................................................................................150
General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-Diversity and Climate Change.................................................... 158
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-19.............................................................................................159
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-14.............................................................................................167
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-16.............................................................................................172
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-16.............................................................................................180
General Science ................................................................................................................................................. 186
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-16.............................................................................................188
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-11.............................................................................................194
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-9...............................................................................................199
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-13.............................................................................................203
HOW TO PREPARE GENERAL STUDIES PAPER II................................................................... 209
Reading Comprehension .................................................................................................................................... 209
Strategy to tackle the Questions...........................................................................................................................210
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-32.............................................................................................210
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-31.............................................................................................229
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-40.............................................................................................247
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-36.............................................................................................268
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability ............................................................................................................ 287
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-25.............................................................................................288
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-25.............................................................................................299
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-30.............................................................................................310
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-15.............................................................................................325
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Decision Making ................................................................................................................................................ 331
Strategy for tackling decision making questions: .................................................................................................331
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-0 .............................................................................................332
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-6 .............................................................................................332
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-7 .............................................................................................336
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-8 .............................................................................................339
Data Interpretation............................................................................................................................................ 343
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-6 .............................................................................................344
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-7 .............................................................................................347
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-1 .............................................................................................350
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-12.............................................................................................351
Basic Numeracy (Secondary Standard) .............................................................................................................. 357
Questions of 2014
Number of Questions-17.............................................................................................358
Questions of 2013
Number of Questions-11.............................................................................................363
Questions of 2012
Number of Questions-2 .............................................................................................367
Questions of 2011
Number of Questions-9 .............................................................................................368
APPROACH TO THE IAS PRELIMINARY 2015 ........................................................................ 372
Time Management ............................................................................................................................................ 372
Ideal Plan ........................................................................................................................................................... 373
How to set deadlines? ....................................................................................................................................... 376
How to divide the day? ...................................................................................................................................... 377
What to read and how to read for IAS Prelims ................................................................................................... 378
General Studies Paper I .........................................................................................................................................379
General Studies Paper II ........................................................................................................................................380
What not to read? ............................................................................................................................................. 381
Criteria to decide ..................................................................................................................................................382
Develop Habit of Avoidance .................................................................................................................................382
Criteria for deciding Study Material ................................................................................................................... 383
How to use Internet for the preparation? .......................................................................................................... 384
Revision Tips ...................................................................................................................................................... 385
Sustain Your Motivation .................................................................................................................................... 386
Is joining the Coaching Indispensable?............................................................................................................... 387
Health Tips ......................................................................................................................................................... 388
TIPS FROM IAS TOPPERS .................................................................................................... 391
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
nd
Munish Sharma, 2 Rank, IAS 2013......................................................................................................................391
th
Dr.Roman Saini, 18 Rank, IAS 2013.....................................................................................................................391
th
Rishav Gupta, 37 Rank, IAS 2013 ........................................................................................................................392
th
Varun Sharma, 155 Rank, IAS 2013 ....................................................................................................................393
th
Raghavendra Singh, 12 Rank, IAS 2012 ..............................................................................................................393
th
Debasweta Banik, 14 Rank, IAS 2012..................................................................................................................394
th
Priyanka Niranjan, 20 Rank, IAS 2012 .................................................................................................................394
st
Rajkamal Yadav, 21 Rank, IAS 2012 ....................................................................................................................396
Tips from Toppers of IAS 2012 ..............................................................................................................................396
th
Nitika Pawar, 18 Rank, IAS 2011 .........................................................................................................................398
Tips from IAS Toppers 2011 ..................................................................................................................................399
rd
R V Varun, 3 Rank, IAS 2010 ...............................................................................................................................400
th
Ajay Prakash, 9 Rank, IAS 2010 ...........................................................................................................................401
st
Samarth Verma, 61 Rank, IAS 2010 ....................................................................................................................401
IAS PRELIMS 2015: FAQS.................................................................................................... 403
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Introduction
Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services Exam every year to recruit the officers for
All India Services and the Central Civil Services. It is the most prestigious exam at the all India level and
hence is one of the hardest nuts to crack in one’s life. The Civil Services Preliminary Test is the first stage
of examination and is considered the toughest among them all.
This book is designed keeping in mind the difficulties of the students in tackling the Preliminary. The
main objective of this E-book is to guide and direct the new as well as old civil services aspirants who
have yet not cleared the IAS Preliminary Test.
The approach of this E-book is to prepare the candidates for the most prestigious exam of India and
direct them to make a successful strategy for the IAS Preliminary exam. This E-book provides crucial
inputs in the preparation of the candidates such as what to read, how to read, when to read, why to
read and the like. In Initial phase of preparation, most of the time of the candidates goes in knowing
what to read and how to read. Jagranjosh.com has taken up the responsibility to guide the candidates so
that their most precious thing that is “time” should not be wasted.
This E-Book gives an orientation to the Civil Services aspirants so that they can understand the whole
process of evolution inside–out needed for the success in the examination. The approach is to make
little modifications in the psyche of the candidates so that they can understand what exactly is needed
to qualify the Preliminary Exam. The examination requires a frame of mind which remains independent
of the questions asked in previous years’ exams. Hence generally we hear that once a candidate qualifies
the Preliminary Exam then it becomes very easy for him/her to qualify again.
The basic methodology of the exam is to filter the candidates having superficial knowledge about the
subjects which make up the whole syllabus of the General Studies Paper I. UPSC has designed the paper
in such a way that the candidates are required to apply their concepts and hence application based
questions are on the rise.
Jagranjosh.com wishes the candidates all the very best of luck!
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Civil Services in India
Civil Service is a heaven born service. In the eyes of a common man District Collector is
the government. Civil Services are as old as our civilization. Civilizations sustain due to
the timely and effective provisions of civil services. Civil Services as a career started with
the monetization of the economic system or earlier when the barter system was in
existence.
History
The Civil Service concept in India dates back to ancient times. It had its presence in
Aryan’s administrative system to the Kautilya's Arthashastra to Gupta age to Mughals
and Britishers and still it is relevant for easy and smooth functioning of government.
The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya 326 B.C.E. The system was
of centralized bureaucracy so that the operation of the state and a bureaucratic taxation
system that financed public services can be moved without obstacles.
The administrative network consisted of a higher bureaucracy recruited mainly from the
upper castes category, and thus attracted high status and handsome salaries. The
recruitment method was not well defined. The lower bureaucracy was recruited on local
basis so that they can be more aware of the ground realities and can implement the
programmes and policies impressively. The upper bureaucracy had a largely managerial
function. The administration mainly revolves around revenue administration. Land was
used to act as an asset and land revenue acted as the prime source of treasure, which
could have been used for social welfare.
This bureaucratic system founded by Kautilyas, Chandragupta and Ashoka was adopted
by the successive emperors of the Guptas. A very unique feature of the Gupta
administration was that instead of salary in cash, it was paid in kind i.e. in the form of
land. Only personnel of the military service were paid cash salaries.
A new stage in the evolution of the administrative order came at the time of Delhi
Sultanate. To consolidate authority and control over conquered area, a new class of civil
servants had been set up. The Mughals tried to create a centralized bureaucracy as
opposed to old feudal systems to administer the huge empire ranging from north to
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
south. The Mughal government brought new methods of administration based on
Persian administrative models and practices. Officials (Muslims) were organized in
military ranks. They were ranked and paid according to the number of troops they
commanded. Fewer officials now were given lands instead they were paid through nonheritable revenues thus making this new warrior elite dependent on the Great Mughal.
This was known as the Mansabdari system.
The British had set the civil services on the scientific terms to demarcate between
civilian and military officers which were missing in Mughal era. The recruitment process
was however on the patronage basis according to the will of the court of Directors who
usually nominated their friends and relatives for the services.
The novel idea of 'open competition' for recruitment was proposed by the Macaulay
Committee which was listed as Charter Act of 1853. Finally, a merit based system based
on open competitive examination set up along with the new system of cadre based Civil
Services.
Evolution of Civil Services in India before Independence
By 1765, the term ‘Civil Servant’ came to be used in the company’s official records. Lord
Cornwallis is known as the Father of Civil Services
in India. He introduced Covenant Civil Services
(Higher Civil Services) which were different from
Lord Cornwallis is known as
the Father of Civil Services in
the Uncovenanted Civil Services (Lower Civil
India.
He
introduced
Services).The Former was created by the Law of
Covenant Civil Services
the Company, while later was not created by the
(Higher Civil Services) which
law of the company. After the revolt of 1857,
were different from the
Uncovenanted Civil Services
there were many reforms in India which
(Lower Civil Services).The
transferred all powers to crown. There were
Former was created by the
reforms in civil services appointments as well,
Law of the Company, while
which were done to increase support for British
later was not created by the
law of the company.
government in India among elites and educated
population.
Charter Act of 1853 abolished the patronage system and introduced the
system of open Competition as the basis of selection of Civil Services. Indian Civil
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
Services Act of 1861 provided the reservation of certain principal posts for the members
of the covenanted services. According to the act, “any Indian or European may be
appointed to any of the office, provided that he had resided in India for last 7 years”.
Satyendranath Tagore was the first Indian ICS officer. Indian Civil Services Act of 1870
went for the Indianisation of the Civil Services. Later the Aitchison Commission
recommended the Civil Services to be trifurcated into Imperial, Provincial and
Subordinate Civil Services.
To increase the representation of local people in the services, the Provincial Civil Service
was constituted on the basis of the recommendation of Aitchison Commission in the last
decade of 19th century. The recruitment of Provincial Civil Service was made partly by
promoting officers from the Subordinate Civil Service and partly by direct recruitment.
Looking at the demand of people, Edwin Montague’s August declaration in 1917
recommended increasing the representation of the Indian population in civil services.
By 1934, the administration was divided into seven All India Services. The Indian Civil
Services was dominated by Indians from the third decade of 20th century till the
independence. After independence, the services came to be known as Indian Civil
Services.
Evolution of Civil Services in India after Independence
After independence, India retained the civil services structure of pre-independent India.
Article 312 of the Indian Constitution empowered the Parliament to create the All India
Services, whenever required in the national interest. The objective was to preserve unity
and integrity of the nation through unified structure
and standards of administration. There have been
number of reforms in terms of recruitment, training
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
and functions of civil services in India.
regarded as the Father of
Indian Civil Service because
he advocated the adoption
of the All-India Services in
independent India.
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IAS Prelims 2015 : A Complete Guide
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