UPSC (Union Public Service commission) Conducts Civil service examination (Also called IAS Examination) every year for recruitment of officers for various Civil services of India. The three Central civil services are- Indian Administrative service (IAS), Indian Police service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Civil services Examination (IAS EXAM) is considered the toughest and the most Competitive Indeed, and the students normally find it very tough to crack. Lakhs of students compete every year for about less than 1000 seats for appointment in the prestigious civil services of India (having a success ratio of as low as.2 %).

Thus it is the common practice to think of this exam this way such that it’s out of reach or requires some extraordinary skill to crack this exam. Thus man students fail not because the exam is tough, but because they didn’t do the IAS preparation up to their abilities because of a wrong concept in mind regarding the toughness of this exam.

The only way you can pass your exam is by doing adequate civil service exam prep. With the right resources and study materials, you will definitely improve your chances of passing your test and as a result, get your dream job.

There are all kinds of people looking to work in this sector. You may want this job as a start to a new career, or you may want to transfer from the private sector to the government sector. In any case, you probably need to take the test in order to get that promotion you want.

Test takers range from fresh college graduates to those who have not taken an examination in a long time. For a job in this field, everyone must do their best to prepare and study for their examination. And that is precisely why civil service exam prep is so important.

And you should know that your civil service exam prep should be focused on your particular skills sets that will be examined on the actual test. And your civil service exam prep should begin with plenty of time before your actual exam day arrives.

The most effective way to study for your test is by getting some sort of preparation material. Try to locate your exam prep material by finding a cost-effective, time saving and comprehensive guide. Often times the material will also have sample questions for you to practice with as well.

Once you get your civil service exam prep material and other resources for your upcoming examination, you need to dedicate some time to prepare for the test. For many applicants, finding time to study may be quite difficult since they may be balancing their current jobs and their family responsibilities at the same time. As a result, do the best you can and try to find the time to prepare that works best for you.

Another tip is to get a quiet space for your study. Keep all distractions away, such as television, radio and cell phones. You need to give your complete attention to your study guide and resources in order to make the most of your learning time.

Finally, do take your civil service exam prep seriously since it will determine whether you pass and get your dream job. When you prepare well and have confidence in your abilities, you will definitely pass your exam the first time around.

Preparing for any test, from the usual to the civil service exam prep is hard enough as it is without having to worry about getting the wrong study materials. Most of the pre-employment tests take the form of standardized tests, I’m sure you are well aware of the format, the usual multiple choices and a time cap.

But multiple choices or not, you cannot hope to pass these tests until and unless you have prepped for the lot. Usually this means burning the midnight oil, pouring over books and doing anything else that you can think of, in order to pass these tests.

Usually the pressure will increase as exam day approaches, but you need to realize that until and unless you are methodical in your studies, you cannot hope for much other than sheer luck. Hey, you can always do the easy, select the answers at random, pray to your god, kiss the bronze statue on the nose for good luck, and carry a rabbit’s foot in your pocket and an additional gypsy good luck charm. Yeah, that’ll get you through in flying colors. Just don’t let the pressure get to you, and try using a good study guide to help you prepare better.

There are many study guides out there that blatantly advertise themselves as the best, be it a civil service prep guide or any other study guide. But these so called quality guides often fail to deliver on the content. More often than not, the contents contained in these guides lack originality and are nothing more than regurgitated rubbish. Sure, if you’re okay with using animal fodder as your best bet to pass the test, go right ahead. Another thing you may need to watch for, the contents contained in these books may not even be relevant to your test.

So, before you opt to purchase the first civil service prep guide you come across, take the time to do some research, check out the various guides and see if they are relevant or not. Make sure that the mock-up questions contained in the study guide adopt the format of your test.

Get ready to devote complete two years to IAS study

Yes that’s right. If you thought you can work as well as prepare for the civil services exams, then it’s mighty difficult and something that’s not advisable. As you have to prepare three complete subjects, one essay and two languages, you will need complete, unmitigated concentration of at least two years. Also remember that one complete civil services cycle consists of the preliminary exam, main exam, and interview that together take one complete year. If you are unable to clear the exam within the first two years, nothing to worry as most people clear only after two years, then you can continue to prepare for the IAS exams along with other activities, including job and giving other exams. But do this only when you have mastered your subjects thoroughly and have preferably given at least one mains.

Choose the right subjects for IAS exams

Once you have decided to take the plunge, proceed methodically. First choose the prelims optionals, the second subject can be taken up later. Now which subject should you take up as your first optional? Take a subject that excites you and implores you to find out more about. That’s the thumb rule. Don’t take a subject just because that’s the most popular one, like History, or because your friend or mentor told you take it up. As you will have to study the subject in depth and reproduce your knowledge in the IAS mains exams according to the demands of the question, you should have a passion for the subject knowledge. Once you have mastered the subject, the marks will follow. Don’t worry about it, there’s nothing called a high scoring or low scoring optional.

Don’t neglect your general awareness

So many candidates focus only on the optional subjects, ignoring the General Studies paper of the civil services exams till the last month. Don’t do this. For the past few years UPSC has made the GS paper very dynamic and the prelims paper is based largely on general awareness and not the conventional rote based knowledge. Even the mains paper has become very analytical and issue focused. For this you will have to stay on pace with the latest developments in India and worldwide, read up general knowledge based year books, magazines and most importantly, read a good paper like The Hindu on a daily basis.

1. You need a dedicated study area. That means you need to find a good place to study that’s quiet, has plenty of room to spread out books and papers, and offers plenty of good lighting.

2. You should have your study tools handy – you need writing paper, note cards (like index cards), pens, markers / highlighters, colored pencils, yellow sticky notes, a small dictionary, calculator, and a folder to keep your papers organized.

3. Get a tutor or study buddy when possible, and be one yourself (you can often learn by teaching!)

4. Review your notes from class/books and rewrite them, clearing up any points necessary and reinforcing them.

5. Compare study notes and class notes with those of others. Fill in what they have that you don’t. Get help understanding what you may have missed. Highlight or underline important points.

6. Read all of your assignments, required book chapters, lessons, etc. Take notes, then go back and re-read again. Jot down questions about anything you do not understand and follow up as best you can.

7. Use practice exams or old tests when studying.

8. Learn to make outlines and outline important information from each lesson, each chapter.

9. Use note cards to make your own flashcards. Then don’t just memorize, but really try to learn the information.

There are so many articles about passing exams, but everyone has his/her own way of passing exams. One can find it very difficult, as it requires good preparation and maximum attention, while another regards exam as the way to demonstrate his/her knowledge. In fact, exams are both way for checking your knowledge and checking your ability to cope with stress and demonstrate skills. The first exam one can take in his/her life is entrance one. When the preparation is over, it is high time to pass it. While taking exam try to do the next steps:

* Start preparation as early as possible. When you pick the questions paper, start answering immediately without delay. It will give an opportunity for additional revising.

* Start answering with the simplest questions. As usual, exam paper contains both simple and more complicated questions. It is preferable to start answering with the easiest questions in order to have more time for preparing difficult ones. Thus, you will have more time for thinking.

* Make necessary notes. Making notes is necessary to do at the exam. Put down all the essential information. It is not necessary to write everything down in order to save time.

* Concentrate. Concentration is very important at the exam. If you do not know the answer to some question, try to concentrate and probably you will remember it with the help of visual memory. You can remember the page or even the book where you found this information.

* Prepare materials for writing. Before entering the room where you are going to take the exam, make sure to have all the necessary materials for writing that are pens and paper.

* Stay calm. During the exam try to stay calm, as nervousness can disappoint you and you will not be able to cope with your task and concentrate on the exam.

A major Issue Every Student faces in this Reputed Exam is choice of optional Subjects. As we know that according to recent Changes made by government in the Pattern of IAS exam, the preliminary Test in this exam has now been replaced by Civil service aptitude test, which comprises of two objective papers for all students carrying Equal marks. So the students don’t have to decide on the optional subjects for the preliminary exam.

Along with 5 compulsory papers for the mains exam (two for general studies, one for essay, one for qualifying English and one for a language from 18 optional languages), candidate has to choose two subjects from a list of 25 optional subjects. Following are the not allowed combinations in the UPSC syllabus-

-> Political Science & International relations and Public Administration,
-> Commerce & Accountancy and Management,
-> Anthropology and Sociology,
-> Mathematics and Statistics,
-> Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science,
-> Management and Public Administration,
-> Any TWO branches of Engineering,
-> Medical Science and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science,
-> Combination of TWO Literature

In the previous pattern, candidates used to take their mainstream subject as first optional and most of the stuff was covered in the prelims exam and then all they had to do was to decide on the second optional subject. But in the new pattern, all the candidates are at equilibrium in the prelims and have to decide two optional subjects for mains exam with more agility and criterion in mind as this is the very factor that determines candidate’s chances for getting through in this exam.
Following are a few criterions to be taken care of while choosing optional subjects in new pattern for IAS exam-

First and the foremost, Candidate must be comfortable in grasping the subject. The decision should not be made on the basis of length of the subject but on the one’s comfort with concepts in the subject. For example, History and geography are known for lengthy syllabus and answers, while public administration and anthropology have limited syllabus and short answers. The edge is not in selecting the subjects that have short or lengthy answers but in comfort with the subject.

Availability of IAS study material is also a vital factor in determining the optional subject. There should be enough resources available for preparing the subject, consulting to an experienced senior in case of a completely new subject in your perspective is quite sensible.

For commerce students, a good combination is assumed to be Commerce+ Public administration, as Public administration Covers lots of topics in commerce like role of CAG etc. Commerce + geography is also a good combination if you are familiar with semi-technical topics and can look around in the maps. This combination is highly scoring and can score you 300-350 marks in the mains exam.

For biology students, Agriculture + botany is good combination since many topics of agriculture are covered in botany.

Once and for all, it’s about candidate’s own comfort in understanding the subject and choosing the optional subjects should be done carefully since it is the very deciding factor for the candidate’s selection in this prestigious examination.

GEOGRAPHY
Paper- II
Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300

INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should attempt all question strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each questions.
The number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question. Illustrate your answers with suitable sketch map and diagrams.

1. Mark on the outline map of India supplied any ten of the following entries. Write brief notes (not exceeding 30 words each) on the significant aspects of the same ten entries: 6×10=60

(a). Nagarjuna Sagar

(b). Dharmasala

(c). Aizawl

(d). Konkan Railway

(e). Kovalam Beach

(f). NagaIjuna Sagar

(g). Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

(h). ICRISAT

(i). Vishakhapatnam Port

(j). Panna

(k). Nuclear Fuel Complex

(l). Gurgaon

(m). Bodh Gaya

2. Explain the different views put forth about the origin of Himalayas and divide Himalayas into vertical divisions. 60

3. Discuss the need of conservation and utility of water resource in India. 60

4.”The institutional factors have grip over the crop pattern and crop productivity on Indian agriculture.” Justify. 60

Section-B

5. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20×3=60

a) Discuss the policies and programmes of Integrated Rural Development Programmes in India.

(b) Explain the causes and consequences of migration.

(e) Write a critical note on the Cauvery River Dispute.

(d) Critically examine the Panchayati Raj setup.

6. Bring out the impact of multinationals and liberalization on the Industrial Economy Pattern of India. 60

7. Discuss environmental problems of India in the context of rapid economic development and population growth. 60

8.”Slums are urban menace.” Elucidate with Indian cities as examples. 60

PAPER  I

SECTION A

1. Answer any three of the following in not more than 200 words each: (20 x 3 = 60)

(a) “The advent of the concept of “roll back of the state” since the nineteen eighties has been altering the role of public administration but certainly not diminishing its central place in human society.” Discuss

(b) “Weberian model of bureaucracy lacks empirical validity when applied to modern democratic administration.” Examine.

(c) “The new public administration (NPM) is an incarnation of a new model of public sector management in response of the challenge of liberalization, international competitiveness and technological changes”. Explain.

(d) ‘Citizen’s charter’ is the most important innovation in the context of promotion of customer-orientation of administration”. Discuss.

2. Give an account of major landmarks in the growth of the discipline of public administration in the 20th century. What are the possible trends in its growth in the first decades of 21st century? (60)

3. Account for the increasing corruption in administration. Suggest remedies to curb administrative corruption. (60)

4. What is morale? State its significance and suggest methods to foster and sustain morale in an organization. (60)

SECTION B

5. Answer any three of the following in not more than 200 words each: (20 x 3 = 60)

(a) “Organization today seems to invest in information and information systems, but their investments often do not seem to make sense”. Comment.

(b) “development administration has two important aspects viz. ‘the administration of development and the development of administration’. Explain.

(c) “training is practical education in any profession, not only to improve skills but also to develop attitudes and scheme of values necessary for effective performance.” Elaborate.

(d) “Legislative controls over finances are inadequate and incomplete.” Comment.

6. Examine the needs adn facets of administrative reforms in the fast changing scenario of the 21st century. What are the obstacles to administrative reforms? Give suggestion to overcome them. (60)

7. Comment on the role of public administration in policy making and its implementation. What are the other factors influencing the policy process? (60)

8. What are the various institutional devices available for the redressal of citizen’s grievances against the excess and malfunctioning of administration? How successful have they been (60).

PAPER II

Time Allowed : Three Hours                                                                                                 Maximum Marks : 300

Candidates should attempt question 1 and 5 which are compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each section.  All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION – A

1. Comment on any three of the following in not more than 200 words each: (3 x 20 = 60)

(a) “The Arthashastra is India’s oldest complete text on public administration”.

(b) “Though india emerged as a sovereign state after independence, the administrative system remained the same as was during the British period”.

(c) “Despite all the powers that he has, the Indian prime minister cannot become a dictator.

(d) “district collector has increasingly become multi dimensional”.

2. “Looking back to our past experience, the fear that the emergency provisions can be misused have at times proved right and wrong at other times. Discuss with examples. (60)

3. (a) “Article 163 makes the governor the sole judge in matters in which he is required to act in his discretion.” Explain.

(b) “It is at the district level that the common man comes into direct contact with the administration.” Elucidate. (30 x 2 = 60)

4. “The steady expansion and the gradual decline of the public sector has been one of the most conspicuous development in post-independence india.  Discuss this statement and suggest measures to arrest the decline of the public sector in india (60)

SECTION – B

5. Comment on any three of the following in not more than 200 words each:

(a) “The size of the leviathan goes on expanding, despite the country’s recent commitment to downsizing or rightsizing”.

(b) “Questions represent a powerful technique of parliament control over expenditure”.

(c) ” A distinctive feature of the indian administration, since independence, has been the noticeable efforts under taken to make administrative system effectively reach and respond to citizen’s grievances.”

d. “Indian planning is highly centralized.”

6. “In-service training of officers belonging to higher civil services has been perhaps the most conspicuous development in indian administration.” Discuss with reference to raining designed for the indian administrative service officers.

7. (a) “Criminalization of politics in india has been extended to politicization of criminals. Comment.

(b) “NGOs are fast replacing the government in the implementation of a large number of programs.” Elucidate.

8. “Information technology, if properly used, can bring about sweeping changes in the nature of governance in india.” Discuss the current status and future possibilities about the use of information technology in the governance of india.

Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum       Marks: 300
Candidates should attempt Question 1 and 2 which are compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each Section. All questions carry equal marks.

1. On the outline map of India provided, mark the following, and also write in your answer-book in not more than ten words, what you consider to be the most significant aspect of each of them :

(a) Farakka barrage

(b) Kavaratti

(c) Manali-leh highway

(d) Majuli riverain island

(e) Rajmahal hills

(f) Palghat gap

(g) Chhattisgarh plain

(h) Luni river

(i) Karwar

(j) Anandpur Sahib
OR
On the outline map of World provided, mark the following, and also write in your answer-book in not more than ten words, what you consider to be the most significant aspect of each of them :

(a) Greenwich

(b) Caribbean Sea

(c) Eritrea

(d) West Bank

(e) Dakshin Gangotri

(f) Vatican City State

(g) Great Dividing Range

(h) Tai-pei

(i) Alaska

(j) Chagai hills

2. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each :

(a) Cs type of climate, as per Koeppen’s .classification

(b) Submarine canyons

(c) Gravity model

(d) Primate city

SECTION A

3. Bring out the distinctions between the ‘continental drift’ theory and the ‘plate tectonics’ theory.

4. Make a comparative study of the tropical and temperate cyclones.

5. Discuss the relevance of ‘watershed’, as an ecosystem for the purpose of sustainable development.

SECTION B

6. Describe the sequence of major paradigm shifts in geo- graphic thought during the twentieth century.

7. Bring out the contrast between the internal structure of the pre-industrial and industrial cities.

8. How far do the patterns of economic development and those of human development correspond with each other in the world ? Illustrate your answer with examples.

Geography – 1999 (Main) (Paper – II)
Candidates should Questions 1and 5 which are compulsory, and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each Section. All questions carry equal marks. Illustrate your answers with suitable sketch-maps and diagrams.

SECTION A

1. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each

(a) Evaluate the feasibility of the proposed Ganga-Cauveri drainage link.

(b) Discuss the role of institutional factors in the efficiency and productivity of agriculture in India.

(c) Examine the resources of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

(d) Bring out the present-day position of exploitation and processing of nuclear minerals in India.

2. Critically examine the problems and prospects of tribal areas in India.

3. Discuss the cropping patterns in different agricultural regions of India.

4. Examine the pattern of distribution and mode of exploitation of bauxite in India.

SECTION B

5. Answer any three of the following in about 200 words each

(a) Examine the importance of industrial estates in India.

(b) Discuss the geographical control of rural settlement pattern in India.

(c) Explain the role of railways as a unifying factor in Indian economy.

(d) Discuss the geopolitical importance of Indian Ocean area.

6. Bring out the trands in the development of fertilizer industry in India.

7. Discuss the concept of city region and referring to Indian cities, examine critically functional indicators used for delimiting the city region.

8. Discuss the role of languages in regional consciousness and national integration in India.