What it takes to be an IAS Officer?" is one question I have been repeatedly asked by the students with a hint of sparkle in their eyes. Every time I have repeated the same answer, "A lot of grit, obsession for learning and a bit of that sparkle in the eyes." I tell them that Civil Services is not just another job. In fact it is a whole new approach to life. The essence of Civil Services is a deep sense of commitment to public good which requires proper understanding and appreciation of Indian reality with all its weaknesses and strengths. We need to identify with the ethos of our society and its cravings.
Selection Process
The emphasis of UPSC in its selection process is to identify appropriate personality-types and not just people who merely display a certain level of academic excellence. The substance of such a personality is an abiding faith in good governance and belief in a firm social commitment to the concept of fair play and justice. It is thus hoped that the people who wish to join Civil Services would be man and woman of real substance without pretence to shallow scholarship. With the hope & faith that such paragons of virtue are not yet extinct, the UPSC goes about its task of selecting suitable men & women for these services. Candidates appearing at this examination would be facing an examination which in many aspects differs from the university-type exam.
Preparation
Consequently, the technique of preparation has to be different to suit the matrix of this examination. There is a lot of teaching in our universities but very little learning takes place because of a general air of indifference and intellectual inertia which shows lack of training in focusing the mental potential, on the part of the students as well as teachers. Work for most university examinations can be done at a leisured pace.
But a candidate for the Civil Services Examination does not have so much time at his disposal. Still, apart from vigorous preparation for at least one year, if the candidates keep this examination in view for one more preceding year, they would be on the right path. What one needs is not a bag of tricks or ways of outwitting examiners for success. Instead, one should make it a habit to concentrate on essentials of each theme or topic that is being studied. The approach should be to develop a higher degree of intellectual curiosity in order to acquire a critical understanding of the new concepts and ideas, better and faster.
Taking It Easy
Every student does possess an overload of worries, fears, hopes and anxieties but one must learn to minimize these factors during the preparations and at the time of exam. To be cool is a fashion these days but we are rarely able to achieve that type of mental state since the anxieties still manage to get into our way. So most of the time it is you who is getting into your own way. Thus it is you who will have to clear out of your way. Only when you are calm and collected you can read and think fast. The student should develop through suitable techniques a mental architecture by using which he can easily hold and recall information in a fast and orderly manner.
Survival Of The Fittest
By the way, it should be borne in mind that there is no element of chance in getting through this exam. Remember, success is when preparation meets performance. Further, also remember competition is nothing new to you. Darwin tells us that man is a survivor of many competitions that he had to face early in this career like most other animals or spices. Hence, we are all born with a strong survival instinct and ability to compete well for most of our needs. The situation in Civil Services competition is no different.
The most effective tool that you have got to win in this competition is your brain which is like a sleeping giant. Recent researches in psychology, education, genetics, physics, and mathematics have shown that the potential of your brain is far greater than was generally imagined. Even the earlier statement that on average we use only one per cent of our brains may well be wrong because it now seems that we use even less than one percent - which means that an enormous amount of your mental capability is never used by you. As you very well know today's society is a knowledge driven society. So, your mind is the most important tool in this knowledge-based environment. Hence, mind is man's ultimate weapon and I call upon you to use it with confidence for success in anything that you do.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
How To Prepare For Prelims
The civil services examination is basically a test to choose suitable administrators. It tests the candidate right from the stage when one starts the preparation. One common misconception about the prelims is that it is a test of facts and figures. This is not so. A candidate should have the right frame of mind and the will power to succeed in the exam. A proper action plan is needed for the preparation itself since he /she will be tested for some essential qualities like power of retention, clarity of concepts, ability to identify the correct alternatives with efficiency and accuracy. All this requires a quick decision making power. Since the preliminary exam in particular is a test of endurance the candidate needs to prepare himself on the physical as well as mental level. The main constraint is the time one gets to answer questions. On an average one gets around 40 seconds for each general Studies question and around 50 seconds for each optional question. Added to this time constraint is the fact that the exam is conducted in the month of May which is usually the hottest month all over the country. Most of the centres for the exam do not have proper facilities which adds to the stress. One sure way of dealing with this stress is to count numbers or to take a few deep breaths. Meditation and Yoga also help in dealing with stress to a great extent.
Now we come to the actual preparation for the prelims exam. Since it is a multiple choice question paper, it needs a different preparation and a proper strategy. The first thing a candidate needs to bear in mind is that the examination is designed to evaluate certain qualities like a sharp memory and basic retention power. There are ways to increase one's memory like preparing charts. One gets confused when faced with mind boggling facts and figures. Important facts and figures can be simplified and represented on charts and they can arranged in the form of tables or graphs. Another thing to remember is to make short and brief notes on each topic so that the entire syllabus can be revised a day before the exam. It is better to use diagrams and link words which make it easier to understand difficult concepts. One more technique to help in retaining information is the use of abbreviations. Since the syllabus involves exhaustive information abbreviations help you to remember it better. It is a good method to remember dates, facts and figures in a picture format and to break up complex names and places into smaller and simpler words. The last and the most important technique is doing regular revision. This helps in retaining the maximum information. A separate time slot should be given to doing not only regular but multiple revisions like daily, weekly, monthly etc.
Many candidates make a mistake of overloading themselves with lots of information and end up remembering nothing. One should be able to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information. Since the preliminary exam is an elimination round the candidate should also learn to focus only on the information needed and filter out the rest. It helps to discuss with friends and teachers but the most reliable way is to past years question papers for the optional subject whereas for the general studies paper, one should keep abreast with current events and information related to them.
An important thing to remember is that for this exam it is just enough to remember information but to understand the concepts well instead of memorizing facts and figures. The questions asked in the General Studies paper are of 10+2 level whereas for the optional subject it is graduation level. Therefore emphasis has to be on conceptual clarity. Any concept has to be understood with its origin, merits and de-merits, then it needs to be analysed with other relevant topics and lastly it has to be correlated with the events that have taken place during the year.
The preliminary exam requires candidates who have the acumen and the ability to choose the right option of many given options. This needs a proper method of elimination. It is a good idea to go through previous years and model question papers and solve as many as possible. Taking a mock test of a certain number of G.S. questions and optional questions would be a good practice and help to pick out the most appropriate option.
Each prelims paper is for two hours but a lot of time is wasted in signing attendance sheets etc, therefore there is a lot of need for effective Time Management not only for the exam but in the preparation as well. It is not enough to know the right answer but it has to be marked correctly on the answer sheet. Speed and Accuracy are important, so solving model question papers on a regular basis would be a great help.
A good presence of mind is needed to eliminate the least appropriate options and arrive at the right one. Tick out the least correct answer first and go on to the next option. Even when faced with a question for which you do not have a ready answer, with basic common sense and a good presence of mind, it is possible to make your guess a smart and a correct one.
Throughout the preparation for the prelims exam, it is important to remember that any topic or concept should not be studied in isolation. It is better to understand and establish a correlation between related concepts from other subjects and current events and happenings.
Even with all this preparation, it is necessary to have a positive attitude and a great amount of will power to succeed to achieve your goal,that of getting through the civil services examination with flying colors!
Now we come to the actual preparation for the prelims exam. Since it is a multiple choice question paper, it needs a different preparation and a proper strategy. The first thing a candidate needs to bear in mind is that the examination is designed to evaluate certain qualities like a sharp memory and basic retention power. There are ways to increase one's memory like preparing charts. One gets confused when faced with mind boggling facts and figures. Important facts and figures can be simplified and represented on charts and they can arranged in the form of tables or graphs. Another thing to remember is to make short and brief notes on each topic so that the entire syllabus can be revised a day before the exam. It is better to use diagrams and link words which make it easier to understand difficult concepts. One more technique to help in retaining information is the use of abbreviations. Since the syllabus involves exhaustive information abbreviations help you to remember it better. It is a good method to remember dates, facts and figures in a picture format and to break up complex names and places into smaller and simpler words. The last and the most important technique is doing regular revision. This helps in retaining the maximum information. A separate time slot should be given to doing not only regular but multiple revisions like daily, weekly, monthly etc.
Many candidates make a mistake of overloading themselves with lots of information and end up remembering nothing. One should be able to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information. Since the preliminary exam is an elimination round the candidate should also learn to focus only on the information needed and filter out the rest. It helps to discuss with friends and teachers but the most reliable way is to past years question papers for the optional subject whereas for the general studies paper, one should keep abreast with current events and information related to them.
An important thing to remember is that for this exam it is just enough to remember information but to understand the concepts well instead of memorizing facts and figures. The questions asked in the General Studies paper are of 10+2 level whereas for the optional subject it is graduation level. Therefore emphasis has to be on conceptual clarity. Any concept has to be understood with its origin, merits and de-merits, then it needs to be analysed with other relevant topics and lastly it has to be correlated with the events that have taken place during the year.
The preliminary exam requires candidates who have the acumen and the ability to choose the right option of many given options. This needs a proper method of elimination. It is a good idea to go through previous years and model question papers and solve as many as possible. Taking a mock test of a certain number of G.S. questions and optional questions would be a good practice and help to pick out the most appropriate option.
Each prelims paper is for two hours but a lot of time is wasted in signing attendance sheets etc, therefore there is a lot of need for effective Time Management not only for the exam but in the preparation as well. It is not enough to know the right answer but it has to be marked correctly on the answer sheet. Speed and Accuracy are important, so solving model question papers on a regular basis would be a great help.
A good presence of mind is needed to eliminate the least appropriate options and arrive at the right one. Tick out the least correct answer first and go on to the next option. Even when faced with a question for which you do not have a ready answer, with basic common sense and a good presence of mind, it is possible to make your guess a smart and a correct one.
Throughout the preparation for the prelims exam, it is important to remember that any topic or concept should not be studied in isolation. It is better to understand and establish a correlation between related concepts from other subjects and current events and happenings.
Even with all this preparation, it is necessary to have a positive attitude and a great amount of will power to succeed to achieve your goal,that of getting through the civil services examination with flying colors!
How can I become a Civil Servant?
fathers today, dream of their sons becoming Software Engineers, dreaming dollar dreams at the Silicon Valley, not so long ago, the patriarch would dream of his son pursuing the Civil Services and becoming an IAS officer. It was seen as an illustrious career-path that could do wonders to one's self-esteem and could rocket the family repute as well.
Years down the line, the picture has not changed much, and why should it, when tens of thousands of young people even today, are all willing to rough it out and chalk their way to the hallowed corridors of bureaucracy.
Needless to say, the Civil Services are an equally challenging career option for women. There have been, and there are many distinguished women bureaucrats who have done remarkably well in the field. Former Foreign Secretary of India, Ms.Choklia Iyer, an IFS officer, was the first woman to occupy the post in the year 2000; and Kiran Bedi, IPS officer, is all too familiar as one who fervently mooted the concept of prison reforms in Delhi's Tihar jail. The number of entrants into this Hall of Fame continues to grow…
The Colonial PastThe Civil Services have always had an air of "pride and power" around them. An offshoot of the Raj, they still hold the same sway even in the post-colonial era. Seen as a legacy of the British Rule here in India, the Civil Services, with all its connotations of hierarchical accountability and controls, was established soon after the suppression of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. It marked the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown in England. The sole objective of the Services then, was to govern the far-flung British Empire, which predominantly involved duties like - preservation of law and order, dispensation of justice and the collection of taxes.
In the 19th century, these services were restricted only to the 'White Babus' and 'Sahibs'. Only from 1920s, after the constitution of the Indian Civil Services (ICS), were Indians admitted to the service
The Democratic PresentToday, the Civil Servants, as the officers of the Civil Services are called, work in a wholly different context, different form the days of the Raj. Following the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, they now operate to create a 'Sovereign, Democratic and a Welfare State' with a singular focus on developing the nation.
So, if you are one, who visualizes the nation as a developed country, as a potential superpower in the days to come, and if you strongly believe that you can lead the nation towards this vision, then get set to chart your way to Bureaucracy and Babudom!
An overview of the servicesThe Indian Civil Services are organized into two main sections:
I. The All India Services II. The Central Services
All India Services: The officers who make it to the All India Services, on appointment by the government of India, will be deputed to different States and are at the disposal of the respective State Governments. These services include:
The Indian Administrative Service (IAS): The IAS officers handle the affairs of the government. At the Central level, their job involves the framing and implementation of policies. At the district level, they manage the affairs of the district, including development related activities. At the divisional level, they look after law and order, general administration and development work.
The Indian Police Service (IPS): The IPS officer's job mainly involves maintaining law and order. (At the district level, they share this responsibility with the IAS officers.) The IPS officer is responsible for ensuring public safety and security; crime detection and prevention; and traffic control and accident prevention and management. There are several functional departments that help IPS officers to carry out their duties.
They are:
Years down the line, the picture has not changed much, and why should it, when tens of thousands of young people even today, are all willing to rough it out and chalk their way to the hallowed corridors of bureaucracy.
Needless to say, the Civil Services are an equally challenging career option for women. There have been, and there are many distinguished women bureaucrats who have done remarkably well in the field. Former Foreign Secretary of India, Ms.Choklia Iyer, an IFS officer, was the first woman to occupy the post in the year 2000; and Kiran Bedi, IPS officer, is all too familiar as one who fervently mooted the concept of prison reforms in Delhi's Tihar jail. The number of entrants into this Hall of Fame continues to grow…
The Colonial PastThe Civil Services have always had an air of "pride and power" around them. An offshoot of the Raj, they still hold the same sway even in the post-colonial era. Seen as a legacy of the British Rule here in India, the Civil Services, with all its connotations of hierarchical accountability and controls, was established soon after the suppression of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. It marked the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown in England. The sole objective of the Services then, was to govern the far-flung British Empire, which predominantly involved duties like - preservation of law and order, dispensation of justice and the collection of taxes.
In the 19th century, these services were restricted only to the 'White Babus' and 'Sahibs'. Only from 1920s, after the constitution of the Indian Civil Services (ICS), were Indians admitted to the service
The Democratic PresentToday, the Civil Servants, as the officers of the Civil Services are called, work in a wholly different context, different form the days of the Raj. Following the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, they now operate to create a 'Sovereign, Democratic and a Welfare State' with a singular focus on developing the nation.
So, if you are one, who visualizes the nation as a developed country, as a potential superpower in the days to come, and if you strongly believe that you can lead the nation towards this vision, then get set to chart your way to Bureaucracy and Babudom!
An overview of the servicesThe Indian Civil Services are organized into two main sections:
I. The All India Services II. The Central Services
All India Services: The officers who make it to the All India Services, on appointment by the government of India, will be deputed to different States and are at the disposal of the respective State Governments. These services include:
The Indian Administrative Service (IAS): The IAS officers handle the affairs of the government. At the Central level, their job involves the framing and implementation of policies. At the district level, they manage the affairs of the district, including development related activities. At the divisional level, they look after law and order, general administration and development work.
The Indian Police Service (IPS): The IPS officer's job mainly involves maintaining law and order. (At the district level, they share this responsibility with the IAS officers.) The IPS officer is responsible for ensuring public safety and security; crime detection and prevention; and traffic control and accident prevention and management. There are several functional departments that help IPS officers to carry out their duties.
They are:
- Crime Branch
- Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
- Home Guards
- Traffic Bureau.
The other agencies at the Central level that aid in similar functions are:
- Intelligence Bureau (IB), which gathers information that will aid in predicting and preventing threats to public order.
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which investigates into cases of corruption and major crimes that are referred to it.
- Cabinet Secretariat Security, which looks after the personal security of the cabinet ministers.
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who are called in times of emergency, like a natural calamity, or when the law and order situation cannot be controlled by the local police alone.
- Border Security Force (BSF), these forces are responsible for the protection of life and property in the border areas.
The Indian Forest Service : The officers in this category manage the forest reserves of the nation. Their job involves the protection and conservation of forest resources and wildlife. They also look after the management and supply of forest products.
The Central ServicesThe Officers of the Central Services serve the Government of India only, irrespective of which State or Country they are posted in. Some of the predominant services that come under this category are:
- The Indian Foreign Service (IFS): The IFS officers look after the country's external affairs, including diplomacy, trade and cultural relations. They are also responsible for the administration and activities of Indian missions abroad; and for the framing and implementation of the Government's foreign policy.
- The Indian Railway Service (IRS): The Indian railway network is one of the largest in the world. The IRS officers ensure the smooth operation of this network.
- The Indian Postal Service: This department looks after the functioning of the mail, telegraphic and other communication services in the country.
- The Accounts and Auditing Service: This department functioning in four categories deals with accounts, audits and inspections of: - public sector, central and state government undertakings; all military establishments; and the fixing, assessment and collection of income tax.
- The Indian Customs (IC) and Central Excise Service (CES): The IC deals with the checking and levy of duty on taxable goods brought into the country; and the CES carries out the duty of taxation of goods manufactured within the country.
- The Indian Ordinance Factories Service: This service oversees the production of goods made particularly for the use of the Armed Forces.
- The Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES): It is concerned with the administration of military cantonments.
- The Indian Information Service (IIS): This comes under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The IIS officers handle the press and/or public relations both within the country and abroad on behalf of the government, its various ministries, Public Sector Units (PSUs) and the defence forces.
So, if you want to contribute more than your mite to the process, read on to know how you can enter the Services.
Eligibility:The three pre-requisites for entering the Services through the Civil Services Examination are:
The candidate must be an Indian citizen
He/She should be between 21 to 30 years of age, as on August 1st of the examination year. Age relaxation of 5 years and 3 years is available to those belonging to SC/ ST and OBC categories respectively.
The candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from any recognized University.
The Starting Point: Cracking the Competitive Examination
Entry to the IAS, IPS and the Central Services is through the combined Competitive Examination for the Civil Services. Recruitment to the Indian Forest Service is through a separate examination. The Competitive Examination takes place in three stages:
Stage I: Preliminary Examination
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), an autonomous body that ensures unbiased recruitment to the Civil Services, conducts the examination. The notification for obtaining the application forms for the examination will appear in the Employment News and also in other leading dailies.
The preliminary (prelims), a written examination is held in the month of June every year. It consists of two papers, both in the objective type format.
- Paper I: This paper is called the General Studies and carries a maximum score of 150 points on 150 questions. It is of two hours duration. It covers these six topics - Indian History, the Constitution of India, Geography, Economics, Science and Current Affairs.
- Paper II: This is an optional paper on a subject of your choice, for instance, Political Science, History, Economics, Psychology etc. A list of the optional subjects that can be taken, can be obtained from the UPSC website - www.upsc.gov.in. Paper II carries a score of 300 points on 120 questions and is also of two hours duration.
Since, it is an extremely competitive exam, the candidates taking the prelims must be extremely diligent and hard working. Only the highest scorers qualify for the second examination, that is, the Main Examination. The success rate of preliminary exam is less than 10%
Stage II: Main Examination
The Main Examination is a written examination in the subjective or essay type format. It is generally held in the month of November/December. It includes nine papers:
- Papers I & II: These are the language papers, of 300 marks each. One is the English language paper, which is compulsory; and the other is in any Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. Marks obtained in these papers are not added in the total score, however qualifying or passing in them with the specified minimum percentage is necessary.
- Paper III: The third is an Essay paper of 200 marks. The candidate can choose to write the essay in either English or in any Indian language mentioned in the eight schedule of the Constitution.
- Paper IV and V: These are the General Studies (G.K. and Current Affairs) papers of 300 marks each.
- Paper VI, VII, VIII & IX: Here, the candidate will have to take two optional subjects, which would contain two papers each. Thus, a total of four papers, where each paper would be of 300 marks, with a total score of 1200.
The number of candidates, who pass through this stage successfully, is further reduced in percentage when compared to the numbers who succeed in the prelims. An indication of the tough competition is the fact that, (on a 1:10 basis), if for instance, a thousand candidates pass the Main exam, there is in reality, only 100 vacancies or civil service posts available.
Stage III: Personality Test
In this final round of elimination, the competition gets the toughest. Candidates are selected on a 1:2 ratio. So, if there are ten vacancies, then twenty candidates will be interviewed.
The personality test follows the pattern of an oral interview or a viva voce. An expert panel judges the candidate's over all personality, his/her social traits, presence of mind, and leadership qualities, apart from their intellectual capabilities and aptitude for the work involved.
When all the hard work of the candidate finally pays off and he finds himself smoothly cruising out of, even the interview stage, he undergoes compulsory training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie as a probationary officer. Training will be imparted in academic areas, which comprise subject studies like economics, history, political science, etc. After this foundation course, specific job-oriented training is conducted separately by each service.
Climbing up the Career Ladder
All officers begin as Junior Scale Officers. With time and experience, they move on to the higher levels like Senior Scale, Super Time Scale, Additional Secretary, Secretary, Chief Secretary and Cabinet Secretary, with the last four representing the higher echelons.
The remuneration given to these government servants might not match corporate standards of the capitalistic world. But the allowances and facilities given to the civil servants are commensurate with the job. It includes housing, telephone, leave travel concessions, official vehicles and so on.
Necessary Traits
If you are a wannabe civil servant, these are the stuff you should be made of:
Apart from tonnes of intelligence and ounces of common sense, you must have a deep sense of responsibility and empathy with the underprivileged and the ability to interact with all kinds of people.- If you are an idealist, who believes that the world will be perfect one day, with optimism and positive thinking to go with it, you already fit the bill.
- You will also require emotional stability to keep your cool when you have to make the unwilling colleagues or subordinates work.
- You should also possess immense personal integrity, for there will be many offenders eagerly waving wads of pelf at you.
- Any job that involves decision-making entails a sense of stately power. Not allowing power to get into your head could be a challenge to your level-headedness.
Advantages
- You get an opportunity to represent the Government
- Working from the grassroots, you get the chance to contribute your mite to the development, day-to-day administration and for the overall welfare of the nation
- The excellent training you receive as a probationary officer in a wide range of intellectual, physical and creative activities groom you into a well-developed personality.
- You will work in different capacities, in different administrative departments. This rich experience can vastly expand your knowledge base.
- With principal activities like decision-making and policy formulation, the job is vested with power.
- It is a white-collared job with cushy allowances and facilities.
Challenges
- You have to work in a rigid hierarchical system, answerable to those at higher echelons at every step. This may sometimes act as a hindrance to freedom and creative inputs.
- You may have to work in an atmosphere of brazen corruption, red-tapeism and unaccountability.
- Deployed in a different state/cadre, or in case of Indian Foreign Service officers, in different countries, you may have to spend a lot of time away from home, family and friends.
- You might have to work under severe stress and pressure while handling situations that can create law and order problems. Most IPS officers, working in the C.I.D or C.B.I departments regularly confront such work situations.
- When a project fails to take off, you alone are often made the scapegoat by politicians, people and the press.
By now, you might be having a picture of what the Civil Services are all about. If you are convinced that it figures like your ultimate job destination and if you have the gritty determination and an indomitable will to get there, well, what are you waiting for? Start preparing now…See you there!
Civil services: Myths & Realities
Civil Services Aspirants are faced with many a dilemma. The tremendous prestige of the examination has created an aura about the examination and given rise to many half-baked truths, which heighten the sense of awe. In this article, an attempt is being made to dispel certain popular “myths” by confronting them with the corresponding “realities”.
Myth: The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the best service to which one can be selected through the Civil Service Examination (CSE). Hence, one should only aim for the IAS and no other service.
Reality: The IAS is undoubtedly among the best services. However, there are other services, which are equally important and satisfying. Hence, it is necessary to have some idea of career opportunities in other services.
Myth: There is too much political interference in the IAS and the IPS.
Reality: Both the IAS and the IPS are services in which one come in close contact with the people. Decisions taken directly or indirectly by IAS and IPS officers have considerable impact on the common man. Any position in which a lot of authority is vested is bound to have controls too. The more important the position the greater the control. This applies equally to private and public sectors. It is a fallacy to imagine that the private sector offers a great degree of independence. The top positions in the private sector are also subject to control or interference in some form or the other.
Myth: Only highly intelligent students with an excellent academic record are successful at the CSE.
Reality: How does one measure intelligence? Can we call someone highly intelligent just because he/she scores 100% in Mathematics or Physics at the 10th Class level? Or do we call a student who has consistently secured a first division intelligent? The fact is, the notion of intelligence is susceptible to varied definitions.However that may be, a survey conducted a few years back indicated that most of the successful aspirants had secured only a second division in graduation. So while a high academic score is a definite asset, a second or a third division in no way hits your chances. You may yet prove yourself.
Myth: Certain optionals have better prospects at the Preliminary.
Reality: The UPSC offers 23 optionals at the Preliminary. All optionals offer equal chances of success. Usually the “proportionate method of representation” is followed. This method may be explained as follows: Total no. candidates appearing at the examination with various optionals = 1,00,000 Total no. of candidates to be selected for the Main Examination = 10,000 Candidates taking History = 20,000 Minimum representation to be secured of candidates who have opted for History = 2,000. Thus every optional is weighted proportionally.
Myth: A large number of candidates are opting for optional ‘X’. Hence it is better to take optional ‘Y’, which is chosen by very few candidates.
Reality: As explained, the number of candidates to be selected from a certain optional is directly proportional to the number of candidates who opt for it. If a large number of students opt for a particular discipline then the number of students taking it selected for the mains will be equally large. If a small number opt for a particular subject, the number selected will be correspondingly less.
Myth: Every optional has a ‘cut-off’ mark. Hence it is better to choose one with a low cut-off.
Reality: What do we mean by cut-off? Only 10,000 qualify at the preliminary. The marks scored by the last candidate mark the ‘cut-off’ Thus all candidates who score more than the cut-off will qualify and all those who don’t will not. You should remember that this is a competitive examination. There is no qualifying score. Whatever the marks, the first 10,000 candidates will qualify. Thus the cut-off point changes from year to year. If the questions are difficult the ‘cut-off’ mark automatically comes down.
Myth: The questions is optional ‘X’ are difficult and confusing. Hence it is better to opt for optional ‘Y’.
Reality: Once again, let us reiterate the obvious. This is a competitive examination. If the questions are difficult, every aspirant will score less and automatically the cut-off mark will be lower.
Myth: In previous years, the cut-off mark for optional ‘Y’ was low and hence it is better to opt for optional ‘Y’.
Reality: The UPSC does not declare any cut-off mark. Therefore, it is impossible to establish any cut-off in any year for any subject.
Myth: The General Studies paper accounts for only 150 marks whereas the optional paper amounts to 300. Therefore too much attention need not be given to General Studies.
Reality: While it is true that more attention has to be given to the optional, preparation for General Studies cannot be neglected. Remember, every mark counts and a single mark can make the difference between success and failure.
Myth: One need not choose the same subject for the Prelims and Mains.
Reality: While there is no stipulation that the same optional be chosen for the prelim and the mains, it is advisable to stick to one subject. To be able to answer the preliminary will, one has to do a through study of the subject-matter. This comes in handy if one opts for the same optional in the mains. If different optional are taken it would lead to a tragic waste of time.
Myth: When the same optional is chosen for the Prelim and the Mains one need not prepare separately for the Preliminary. Preparation for the Mains is sufficient.
Reality: At least 90% of the preliminary syllabus is included in the mains. However, there is a difference in approach. The Preliminary demands a micro approach requiring close acquaintance with details whereas the mains require a broad perspective. Hence different methods of preparation are called for.
Myth: In order to be successful at the Civil Services Examination an aspirant has to work for at least 16 hours a day.
Reality: While people claim long hours of study, yet it is doubtful whether 16 hours of intensive study is humanly possible. Remember, “it is not the number of hours that is important but the work that you put in those hours that is important”. Each one of us has a ”span of attention” and the preparation should be tailored accordingly. There is no need to obsessed with the number of hours.
Myth: The preliminary examination is a ‘gamble’. Whatever the level of preparation, one can never be sure of successful till the results are announced. Hence, it is better to commence preparation for the Mains, only after the Prelims.
Reality: Every competitive examination has a ‘chance’ factor. The Civil Services examination is no different. While, there is an element of chance it can be reduced to a large extent by well-directed effort. A student, who has prepared in the right direction, has 90% percent of chance of being successful. Moreover, the Mains exam is conducted 90 days after the declaration of the preliminary result. 90 days is ‘just not’ sufficient to prepare for two optionals, a General Studies paper and an Essay.
Myth: The provisions of reservation are not applied at the preliminary Examination
Reality: The provisions of reservations are applied at each stage of the examination, Otherwise; a proportional representation to the next stage is not possible.
Myth: Some optionals are paying at the Preliminary examination and are not paying at the Main examinination. Therefore, it is better to change optionals at the Main examination.
Reality: As mentioned in our previous article there is nothing like a ‘paying ’ and a ‘non paying ’ optional. This myth has been in circulation as some students who have done well at the Prelims with an option have failed to score high marks at the Main examination. This can be attributed to two reasons,(a).Having thoroughly prepared for the optionals at the Preliminary level, the aspirant becomes complacent as he feels he knows the subject only ‘too well’ and can tackle the Mains with ease.(b).The aspirant lacks the required writing skills. The Preliminary examination being a multiple-choice type, required a thorough familiarity with the subject. Language skills are not required at this stage. The Mains examinations, especially in the social sciences is dependent upon the adequate writing skills (which are based on one’s command over the language) along with knowledge of the subject. If an aspirant does not have the writing skills he will obviously not score well.
Myth: An aspirant has to have a deep insight into the optional in which he is appearing at.
Reality: Experience of successfull candidates has disproved this largely accepted fact. Aspirants who have not had adequate time to grasp the nuances of the subject have also scored high. Perhaps this is because of good writing skills and a proper approach to the subject. The trend of scores in the previous examinations indicates that the UPSC expects a general level of knowledge in any optional rather than a scholarly attitude.
Myth: The general essay paper does not require any special prepartion.
Reality: This was the case till a few years back. Candidates with a Social Science background especially those with Sociology or Public Administration had a distinct advantage at the essay paper. Out of the 8 topics mentioned in the question paper at least two topics had a significant overlap with Public Administration or Sociology. The 1998 paper was different. All the topics were of a general nature and no candidate had an advantage. If the same trend continues, preparation is imperative.
Myth: The general essay paper has been introduced to the disadvantage of a student with a 'pure' science background.
Reality: The general essay paper has been introduced to check the competence of the student in drafting skills. The marks scored by the aspirants, in the previous examinations clearly indicates that it is not necessary to have flowery or bombastic language to score high. The general essay is GENERAL as the name indicates. Good command over the language and good writing skills are definitely assets, but need not be regarded as necessities. Clear and Cogent expression is rewarded and even a student of pure sciences can score high. Hence none has an unfair advantage.
Myth: The compulsory language papers are only qualifying and do not require any preparation.
Reality: The compulsory papers viz., a modern Indian language and English are only qualifying i.e., an aspirant has to score the minimum pass marks in these subjects. However one cannot take it for granted. For example, a student appearing at the examination from Andhra Pradesh tends to choose his mother tongue i.e., Telugu as his modern Indian language. Usually, a student has been educated in English medium looses touch with writing skills in Telugu after his Xth standard and while we could be very fluent in speaking the language, writing is an entirely different skill.Instances are not lacking where aspirants who were categorised as the 'most probable' have failed to qualify in the language papers. Moreover, the questions are becoming tougher year by year. Thus, it is safe to prepare for qualifying paper. The qualifying paper in English need not be prepared for if one has been educated in English medium
Myth: The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) is the best service to which one can be selected through the Civil Service Examination (CSE). Hence, one should only aim for the IAS and no other service.
Reality: The IAS is undoubtedly among the best services. However, there are other services, which are equally important and satisfying. Hence, it is necessary to have some idea of career opportunities in other services.
Myth: There is too much political interference in the IAS and the IPS.
Reality: Both the IAS and the IPS are services in which one come in close contact with the people. Decisions taken directly or indirectly by IAS and IPS officers have considerable impact on the common man. Any position in which a lot of authority is vested is bound to have controls too. The more important the position the greater the control. This applies equally to private and public sectors. It is a fallacy to imagine that the private sector offers a great degree of independence. The top positions in the private sector are also subject to control or interference in some form or the other.
Myth: Only highly intelligent students with an excellent academic record are successful at the CSE.
Reality: How does one measure intelligence? Can we call someone highly intelligent just because he/she scores 100% in Mathematics or Physics at the 10th Class level? Or do we call a student who has consistently secured a first division intelligent? The fact is, the notion of intelligence is susceptible to varied definitions.However that may be, a survey conducted a few years back indicated that most of the successful aspirants had secured only a second division in graduation. So while a high academic score is a definite asset, a second or a third division in no way hits your chances. You may yet prove yourself.
Myth: Certain optionals have better prospects at the Preliminary.
Reality: The UPSC offers 23 optionals at the Preliminary. All optionals offer equal chances of success. Usually the “proportionate method of representation” is followed. This method may be explained as follows: Total no. candidates appearing at the examination with various optionals = 1,00,000 Total no. of candidates to be selected for the Main Examination = 10,000 Candidates taking History = 20,000 Minimum representation to be secured of candidates who have opted for History = 2,000. Thus every optional is weighted proportionally.
Myth: A large number of candidates are opting for optional ‘X’. Hence it is better to take optional ‘Y’, which is chosen by very few candidates.
Reality: As explained, the number of candidates to be selected from a certain optional is directly proportional to the number of candidates who opt for it. If a large number of students opt for a particular discipline then the number of students taking it selected for the mains will be equally large. If a small number opt for a particular subject, the number selected will be correspondingly less.
Myth: Every optional has a ‘cut-off’ mark. Hence it is better to choose one with a low cut-off.
Reality: What do we mean by cut-off? Only 10,000 qualify at the preliminary. The marks scored by the last candidate mark the ‘cut-off’ Thus all candidates who score more than the cut-off will qualify and all those who don’t will not. You should remember that this is a competitive examination. There is no qualifying score. Whatever the marks, the first 10,000 candidates will qualify. Thus the cut-off point changes from year to year. If the questions are difficult the ‘cut-off’ mark automatically comes down.
Myth: The questions is optional ‘X’ are difficult and confusing. Hence it is better to opt for optional ‘Y’.
Reality: Once again, let us reiterate the obvious. This is a competitive examination. If the questions are difficult, every aspirant will score less and automatically the cut-off mark will be lower.
Myth: In previous years, the cut-off mark for optional ‘Y’ was low and hence it is better to opt for optional ‘Y’.
Reality: The UPSC does not declare any cut-off mark. Therefore, it is impossible to establish any cut-off in any year for any subject.
Myth: The General Studies paper accounts for only 150 marks whereas the optional paper amounts to 300. Therefore too much attention need not be given to General Studies.
Reality: While it is true that more attention has to be given to the optional, preparation for General Studies cannot be neglected. Remember, every mark counts and a single mark can make the difference between success and failure.
Myth: One need not choose the same subject for the Prelims and Mains.
Reality: While there is no stipulation that the same optional be chosen for the prelim and the mains, it is advisable to stick to one subject. To be able to answer the preliminary will, one has to do a through study of the subject-matter. This comes in handy if one opts for the same optional in the mains. If different optional are taken it would lead to a tragic waste of time.
Myth: When the same optional is chosen for the Prelim and the Mains one need not prepare separately for the Preliminary. Preparation for the Mains is sufficient.
Reality: At least 90% of the preliminary syllabus is included in the mains. However, there is a difference in approach. The Preliminary demands a micro approach requiring close acquaintance with details whereas the mains require a broad perspective. Hence different methods of preparation are called for.
Myth: In order to be successful at the Civil Services Examination an aspirant has to work for at least 16 hours a day.
Reality: While people claim long hours of study, yet it is doubtful whether 16 hours of intensive study is humanly possible. Remember, “it is not the number of hours that is important but the work that you put in those hours that is important”. Each one of us has a ”span of attention” and the preparation should be tailored accordingly. There is no need to obsessed with the number of hours.
Myth: The preliminary examination is a ‘gamble’. Whatever the level of preparation, one can never be sure of successful till the results are announced. Hence, it is better to commence preparation for the Mains, only after the Prelims.
Reality: Every competitive examination has a ‘chance’ factor. The Civil Services examination is no different. While, there is an element of chance it can be reduced to a large extent by well-directed effort. A student, who has prepared in the right direction, has 90% percent of chance of being successful. Moreover, the Mains exam is conducted 90 days after the declaration of the preliminary result. 90 days is ‘just not’ sufficient to prepare for two optionals, a General Studies paper and an Essay.
Myth: The provisions of reservation are not applied at the preliminary Examination
Reality: The provisions of reservations are applied at each stage of the examination, Otherwise; a proportional representation to the next stage is not possible.
Myth: Some optionals are paying at the Preliminary examination and are not paying at the Main examinination. Therefore, it is better to change optionals at the Main examination.
Reality: As mentioned in our previous article there is nothing like a ‘paying ’ and a ‘non paying ’ optional. This myth has been in circulation as some students who have done well at the Prelims with an option have failed to score high marks at the Main examination. This can be attributed to two reasons,(a).Having thoroughly prepared for the optionals at the Preliminary level, the aspirant becomes complacent as he feels he knows the subject only ‘too well’ and can tackle the Mains with ease.(b).The aspirant lacks the required writing skills. The Preliminary examination being a multiple-choice type, required a thorough familiarity with the subject. Language skills are not required at this stage. The Mains examinations, especially in the social sciences is dependent upon the adequate writing skills (which are based on one’s command over the language) along with knowledge of the subject. If an aspirant does not have the writing skills he will obviously not score well.
Myth: An aspirant has to have a deep insight into the optional in which he is appearing at.
Reality: Experience of successfull candidates has disproved this largely accepted fact. Aspirants who have not had adequate time to grasp the nuances of the subject have also scored high. Perhaps this is because of good writing skills and a proper approach to the subject. The trend of scores in the previous examinations indicates that the UPSC expects a general level of knowledge in any optional rather than a scholarly attitude.
Myth: The general essay paper does not require any special prepartion.
Reality: This was the case till a few years back. Candidates with a Social Science background especially those with Sociology or Public Administration had a distinct advantage at the essay paper. Out of the 8 topics mentioned in the question paper at least two topics had a significant overlap with Public Administration or Sociology. The 1998 paper was different. All the topics were of a general nature and no candidate had an advantage. If the same trend continues, preparation is imperative.
Myth: The general essay paper has been introduced to the disadvantage of a student with a 'pure' science background.
Reality: The general essay paper has been introduced to check the competence of the student in drafting skills. The marks scored by the aspirants, in the previous examinations clearly indicates that it is not necessary to have flowery or bombastic language to score high. The general essay is GENERAL as the name indicates. Good command over the language and good writing skills are definitely assets, but need not be regarded as necessities. Clear and Cogent expression is rewarded and even a student of pure sciences can score high. Hence none has an unfair advantage.
Myth: The compulsory language papers are only qualifying and do not require any preparation.
Reality: The compulsory papers viz., a modern Indian language and English are only qualifying i.e., an aspirant has to score the minimum pass marks in these subjects. However one cannot take it for granted. For example, a student appearing at the examination from Andhra Pradesh tends to choose his mother tongue i.e., Telugu as his modern Indian language. Usually, a student has been educated in English medium looses touch with writing skills in Telugu after his Xth standard and while we could be very fluent in speaking the language, writing is an entirely different skill.Instances are not lacking where aspirants who were categorised as the 'most probable' have failed to qualify in the language papers. Moreover, the questions are becoming tougher year by year. Thus, it is safe to prepare for qualifying paper. The qualifying paper in English need not be prepared for if one has been educated in English medium
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR Geography....
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION :
1. 6th to 12th NCERT Books for Geography.
2. Certificate of Physical Geography - Goh Cheng Leong.
3. Physical Geography -Savindra Singh
4.Physical Geography - Made simple series - Rupa Publications
5. Economic & Commercial Geography - Made Simple Series - Rupa Publications.
6. Human and Economic Geography - Leong & Norgan
7. Human Geography - Majid Hussain.
8. Geographical thoughts - Majid Hussain.
9. Field Work - 11 th NCERT.
10. Cartography - R.L. Singh
11. Geography of India - Gopal Singh
12. Economic & Commercial Geography of India - C.B. Memoria
13. Orient longman - Atlas.
14. TTK - Atlas
15. Dictionary of Geography - Penguin
16. Spectrum guide for Geography.
17. Siddhartha - Preliminary Question Bank.
18. Geography Guide - Narmadeshwar Prasad.
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR MAINS EXAMINATION :
Paper - I
Physical geography - Savinder Singh
The Earth's dynamic surface - K. Sidhartha
Physical geography - Strahler & Strahler
Climatology - D.S. Lal
Physical geography made simple - Rupa
Oceanography - Sharma & Vital
Biogeography - Savinder Singh
Evolution of geographical thoughts - Majid Hussain and Adhikari
Economic geography - K. Sidhartha
Economic and social geography made simple - Rupa
Urban geography - K. Sidhartha
Human geography - Majid Hussain
Geography of population - R.C. Chandra
Regional Planning in India - hand & Puri
Political geography - Dixit
Paper - II
Physical environment - NCERT
NCERT Class XII
India: Physical aspects - K Sidhartha
Geography of India - Mamoria
Agricultural geography - Majid Hussain
Agricultural problems in India - Sadhu and Singh
Economic & Commercial geography of India - Mamoria
India's urbanisation and urban systems - R. Ramachandran
Regional planning in India - Chand and Puri
Political geography - Dixit
India: political aspects - K. Sidhartha
REFERENCE BOOKS OVERALL :
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
NCERT Vol -1
Physical Geography - Bunnett
Certificate physical and human geography - Goh, Cheng Leong
Physical Geography made simple
HUMAN AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Human and Economic Geography - NCERT
Economic Geography, Economic and Social Geography made simple
Penguim masters studies on geography
The Cultural Landscape - Rubeistein
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
Indian geography - Rammorthy Gopalakrishnan
Physical geography of India - S.M. Mathur
General geography - NCERT
Mineral of India - NBT (Wadia)
Resources and regional development - NCERT
Catography - R.L. Singh
World regional geography - Fellnan
Work book - K. Siddhartha and S. Mukherjee
Question Bank - Surendra Singh, 1000
Geography quiz - Muthiah
1. 6th to 12th NCERT Books for Geography.
2. Certificate of Physical Geography - Goh Cheng Leong.
3. Physical Geography -Savindra Singh
4.Physical Geography - Made simple series - Rupa Publications
5. Economic & Commercial Geography - Made Simple Series - Rupa Publications.
6. Human and Economic Geography - Leong & Norgan
7. Human Geography - Majid Hussain.
8. Geographical thoughts - Majid Hussain.
9. Field Work - 11 th NCERT.
10. Cartography - R.L. Singh
11. Geography of India - Gopal Singh
12. Economic & Commercial Geography of India - C.B. Memoria
13. Orient longman - Atlas.
14. TTK - Atlas
15. Dictionary of Geography - Penguin
16. Spectrum guide for Geography.
17. Siddhartha - Preliminary Question Bank.
18. Geography Guide - Narmadeshwar Prasad.
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR MAINS EXAMINATION :
Paper - I
Physical geography - Savinder Singh
The Earth's dynamic surface - K. Sidhartha
Physical geography - Strahler & Strahler
Climatology - D.S. Lal
Physical geography made simple - Rupa
Oceanography - Sharma & Vital
Biogeography - Savinder Singh
Evolution of geographical thoughts - Majid Hussain and Adhikari
Economic geography - K. Sidhartha
Economic and social geography made simple - Rupa
Urban geography - K. Sidhartha
Human geography - Majid Hussain
Geography of population - R.C. Chandra
Regional Planning in India - hand & Puri
Political geography - Dixit
Paper - II
Physical environment - NCERT
NCERT Class XII
India: Physical aspects - K Sidhartha
Geography of India - Mamoria
Agricultural geography - Majid Hussain
Agricultural problems in India - Sadhu and Singh
Economic & Commercial geography of India - Mamoria
India's urbanisation and urban systems - R. Ramachandran
Regional planning in India - Chand and Puri
Political geography - Dixit
India: political aspects - K. Sidhartha
REFERENCE BOOKS OVERALL :
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
NCERT Vol -1
Physical Geography - Bunnett
Certificate physical and human geography - Goh, Cheng Leong
Physical Geography made simple
HUMAN AND ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
Human and Economic Geography - NCERT
Economic Geography, Economic and Social Geography made simple
Penguim masters studies on geography
The Cultural Landscape - Rubeistein
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
Indian geography - Rammorthy Gopalakrishnan
Physical geography of India - S.M. Mathur
General geography - NCERT
Mineral of India - NBT (Wadia)
Resources and regional development - NCERT
Catography - R.L. Singh
World regional geography - Fellnan
Work book - K. Siddhartha and S. Mukherjee
Question Bank - Surendra Singh, 1000
Geography quiz - Muthiah
About Civil Service India....
About Civil Services
Indian Administrative Service
India Foreign Service
Indian Police Service Group A
Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service
Indian Audit and Accounts Service
Indian Customs and Central Excise Service
Indian Defence Accounts Service
Indian Revenue Service
Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, non-technical)
Indian Postal Service
Indian Civil Accounts Service
Indian Railway Traffic Service
Indian Railway Accounts Service
Indian Railway Personnel Service
Posts of Assistant Security Officer in Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Indian Defence Estates Service
Indian Information Service (Junior Grade) Group - B
Railway Board Secretariat Service (Section Officer's Grade)
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer's Grade)
Customs Appraisers' Service
Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service and Police Service
Pondicherry Civil Service
Indian Administrative Service
India Foreign Service
Indian Police Service Group A
Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service
Indian Audit and Accounts Service
Indian Customs and Central Excise Service
Indian Defence Accounts Service
Indian Revenue Service
Indian Ordnance Factories Service (Assistant Works Manager, non-technical)
Indian Postal Service
Indian Civil Accounts Service
Indian Railway Traffic Service
Indian Railway Accounts Service
Indian Railway Personnel Service
Posts of Assistant Security Officer in Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Indian Defence Estates Service
Indian Information Service (Junior Grade) Group - B
Railway Board Secretariat Service (Section Officer's Grade)
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer's Grade)
Customs Appraisers' Service
Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service and Police Service
Pondicherry Civil Service
Friday, December 28, 2007
Exam Books General Studies...
1. Indian 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 Indiaii. Frontlineiii. Civil Service Chronicleiv. Chanakya v. Competition WIZARDvi. Civil Services Today
i. The Hindu/The Times of Indiaii. Frontlineiii. Civil Service Chronicleiv. Chanakya v. Competition WIZARDvi. Civil Services Today
8. Guides
1. Tata Mc Graw Hill 2. Spectrum 3 . Unique
1. Tata Mc Graw Hill 2. Spectrum 3 . Unique
Topic Wise Reference
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 KrishnaBipin Chandra - Modern India A.C.Banerjee - History of Modern India Raghavan Aiyer — Mahatma Gandhi
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
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
Social and National Issues :
Social Problem - Ram Ahuja
Social Welfare Magazine - Published by ministry of social welfare
Yojana/Kurukshetra
IIPa Journal
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
Science & Technology:
NCERT : (10 level) : Science, (+2 level) : Biology.
Popular Science Series (CSIR)
Reports Of the Ministry of Science and Technology Yojana
Science Reporter
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