A meticulously sought after planning and proper & timely guidance can enable an alert individual to clear the tough UPSC examinations. According to the UPSC aspirants, half of the battle is won right after selecting the right optionals for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) selection examination. Provided that optionals in each IAS preliminary and IAS mains examination determine a candidate’s scoring pattern, questions asked in the final interview are based on the choice of optional subjects chosen.

There is a plethora of subjects to choose from, since students belong to varied streams of education, the subjects on offer include Science subjects that expands over Physics, iaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry, Botany and Zoology; Humanities subjects that expands over iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History, Political Science, Public Administration, iaspapers.info/category/geography" title='Read more about Geography'>Geography and Sociology and languages such as Hindi, iaspapers.info/category/english" title='Read more about English'>English, Urdu and Pali. UPSC also offers subjects such as Anthropology, Psychology and Philosophy. Additionally, the more number of subjects make it more difficult for students to make choices in optionals.

Optional subjects are chosen on the basis of a number of parameters, on one hand there are optionals that are considered to be scoring where as there are others that are favored for their relevance to either iaspapers.info/category/general-studies" title='Read more about General Studies'>General Studies papers or iaspapers.info/category/current-affairs" title='Read more about Current Affairs'>Current Affairs and essay questions whereas there are many who choose subjects for their defined set of topics asked and comparatively short type answers. Students feel that this bit of planning makes their choice of subject a success as there are combinations that have common IAS syllabus which reduces their workloads and improves their chances of scoring in civil services examination.

Likewise botany and zoology are two complementary optionals that have common syllabus as these prove to be advantageous for their future. The IAS syllabus talks about emerging issues such as genetically modified (GM) foods, cloning, biotechnology and environmental sensitization. However, students should also show their aptitude skills for the subject they choose as they require a fair degree of specialized knowledge. While preparing for the optional, it is advised to study first for the IAS mains paper and then prepare for IAS preliminary as this provides students an edge and then allow them to specialize in certain scoring areas.

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.

iaspapers.info/category/geography" title='Read more about Geography'>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.

HISTORY
Paper II
INSTRUCTIONS
Candidates should attempt Question No. 1 and 5 which are compulsory and any three of the remaining questions selecting at least one question from each Section.The number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question. Answer should be precise and to the point.

SECTION – A

( Modern India )

1. Comment on any three of the following statements in about 200 words each : 20×3=60

a). “ Though the Permanent Settlement had serious defects ,it gave tranquility to the countryside and stability to the
government”.

b). “ The Arya Samaj may quite logically be pronounced as the outcomes of conditions imported into India by the
west.” ( Lala Lajpat Rai)

c). “Please remember, in granting separate electorates we are sowing the dragons’s teeth and harvest will be bitter.”
( Morley)

d). “ The annexation of Awadh shook the loyalty of the Sepoy’s , as it was for them an ultimate proof of untrustworthiness of the British.”

2.a). Why was Mysore considered a threat by the British to their possessions and mercantile interests in the south ? Do
You think that Tipu Sultan’s posturing became his undoing?

b). How did the East India Company became the dejure power in India? 30

3. a). How did social legislation in the nineteenth century improve the condition of women in India? 30

b). Analyze the social composition of the early Congress leadership. 30

4. a). Discuss as to why the congress accepted the partition of India in 1947. 30

b). Do you think that Quit India movement was a Spontaneous Revolution ? 30

SECTION B : ( World iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History )

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

a). “ The capitalism which gave the European empires their apparent solidarity and permanence also hastened their downfall.”

b). “ In all the long annals of Imperialism , the partition of Africa is a remarkable freak.”

c). “ Hitler did not really want a world War. His intention was only a short war with Poland.” ( A. J. P. Taylar )

d). “Arab nationalism and oil – these were the principal Factors in complicating the relations of middle eastern countries with the outside world.”

6. a) Discuss the emergence of neo-imperialism in the late nineteenth century. 30

b). What was the extent of industrilisation in western Europe by the end of the nineteenth century? 30

7. a). How did Nepoleon Bonapart fuse the old France with the new ? 30

b). Why did Vietnam go through thirty years of war after the second world war? 30

8. a). Account for the overthrow of the Tsarist regime in Russia 30

b). Examine the peace keeping efforts of the United Nations Organization. 30

Topic wise Books

* Anatomy – Megraper or Snell
* Human Anatomy (3 Vol.) – Chaurasia
* Medical Physiology – Gyston
* Human Physiology – Chatterjee
* Pathology – Muirs or Robbins
* Microbiology – Anand Narayan or Chatterjee
* Principal and Practice of Medicines – Davidson
* Social and Preventive Medicine – Park & Park
* Surgery – Love and Bailey
* Essentials of Bio-chemistry – M C Pant
* Review in Bio-chemistry – Harper
* Heinmann Medical Dictionary – Janife
* Heinmann Dental Dictionary – Lennox

Books for IAS Prelims Exam Preparation

* Human anatomy: Chaurasia (III Volumes) and Histology (Inderbir Singh) – Basic Gray and Neuroanatomy (Inderbir Singh) for selected topics.
* Physiology: Ganong
* Bioiaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry: Harper
* Microbiology: Anantha Narayan (Introduction to Microbiology), Parasitology (Jayaram Panikkar)
* Pathology: Robbins (Big Robbins)
* Medicine: Harrison (No other book may be useful)
* Surgery: Bailey (No other book may be useful)
* SPM: Park (No other book may be useful)

Books for IAS Main Exam Preparation

* Human anatomy: Chaurasia (III Volumes) and Histology (Inderbir Singh)
* Physiology: Ganong
* Bioiaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry: Harper
* Microbiology: Anantha Narayan (Introduction to Microbiology), Parasitology (Jayaram Panikkar)
* Pathology: Robbins (Big Robbins)
* Medicine: George Mathew (Notes in medicine), Harrison if needed
* Surgery: Bailey (Das will be also useful for some areas)
* SPM: Park

* Company Law: N.D.Kapoor
* Management: Kunj
* Auditing: Dinkar Pagare
* Management Concepts: C.V.Gupta
* Financial Accounting: Grewal, Monga
* Cost Accounting: Maheshwari & Mittal
* Taxation: Singhania, Girish Ahuja
* Auditing: Kamal Gupta
* Financial Institution: Anand Jain
* Financial Management: I.M.Panday
* Organisation Theory: L.M.Prasad, Rao Narayanan, R.S.Sharma
* Industrial Relation: Mamoria, Singh & Chabra, Monappa

Physical iaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry

* Gaseous state, Thermodynamics, Phase rule, solutions, Colligative properties, Electro iaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry, Catalysis, Colloids – Principals of physical chemistry – Puri, Sharma & Pathawa
* Chemical kinetics – Advance physical chemistry – Gurdeep Raj
* Photo chemistry – A text book of physical chemistry (Vol. – IV) – K.L. Kapoor
* Advance physical chemistry – Gurdeep Raj.

Organic iaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry

* Bonding and shape of organic molecules, Stereo chemistry of carbon compound – Reactions and reagents – O.P. Agarwal
* A guide to mechanism in organic chemistry – Peter Sykes
* Rest all the chapters – A text book of organic chemistry – Bahl & Bahl

Inorganic iaspapers.info/category/chemistry" title='Read more about Chemistry'>Chemistry

* Atomic Structure – Principle of physical chemistry – Puri, Sharma & Pathwa
* Advance inorganic chemistry – J.D. Lee
* Chemical Periodicity, Chemical bonding,Coordination compound – Selected topics in inorganic chemistry – Maden, Malik, Tuli
* Theoretical principles of inorganic chemistry – G.S. Manku,
* Extradiction of metals, Principle of inorganic chemistry – Puri, Sharma, Jauhar.
* Rest all the chapters – An advance inorganic chemistry – J.D. Lee
* Pollution and its control – A text book of environmental chemistry and pollution – S.S. Dara.

Paper-I
1. Linear Algebra – K.C. Prasad, K B Datta
2.Calculus – Santhi Narayan 3.Analytic Geometry – Shantinarayan, HC Sinha, DK Jha and Sharma
4.Ordinary Differential eqs:- MD Raising Lumina, Golden seris-NP Bali
5. Dynamics, Statitics and Hydrostatics – M.Ray
6. Vector analysis – Shantinarayan

Paper-II
1.Algebra – K C Prasad, KB Datta
2.Real Analysis – Shantinarayan,Royden
3.Complex Analysis – GK Ranganath
4.Linear Programming – SD sharma
5.Partial Diff.eqs. – Singhania
6.Numerical analysis and Computer Progg. – V. Rajaraman, SS Shasri
7.Mechanics & Fluid dynamics – AP Mathur, Azaroff leonid

Other Books for Preparation

1. Modern Algebra – A. R. Vashisth
2. Algebra – J. N. Sharma and S. N. Goyal
3. Linear Algebra – Schaum Series (Lipshutz) or Sharma and Vashisth
4. Matrices – Schaum Series (Frank Ayres) or Vashisth
5. Calculus – I. A. Menon
6. Coordinate Geometry – R. L. Soni
7. Differential Calculus – Gorakh Prasad
8. Analytical Solid Geometry – Shanti Narayanan
9. Text Book of Coordinate Geometry – Rai Ballabh
10. Mechanism – D. S. Mathur
11. Statistical Mechanism – Carson Horg .
12. Solid Mechanism – Kazmioo
13. Mathematics Dictionary – James
14. Differential Equations – Schaum Series (Frank Ayres) or N.M. Kapur or Raisinghania
15. Numerical Analysis – S.S. Sastry
16. Complex Analysis – Schaum Series or J.N. Sharma
17. Operations Research – Kanti Swaroop or Manmohan

* Physics Vol I&II by David Haliday and Resnick (for basic concepts)
* Any practice book for objective questions.
* Any IIT/Engineering entrance type objective questions book in physics will do
* Mechanics – D.S. Mathur, B.S. Agarwal
* Waves and Oscillations – Brijlal & Subramanyam, B.S. Agarwal
* Optics – Brijlal& Subramanyam, B.S. Agarwal, Ajoy & Ghatak
* Thermal Physics – Singal, Agarwal & Prakash, B.S. Agarwal, Shah & Srivastava
* Electricity & Magnetism: D.C. TAyal, B.S. Agarwal, Griffith
* Any fundamental book on electrical engineering like B.L Thareja (Vol 1) or Vincent Del Tero
* Modern Physics – A Beiser (Concepts of modern physics), S.L. Gupta, B.S. Agarwal, J.B. Rajan
* Electronics – Milman & Halkias, S. Ramnam, Ryder or Bolstead, Malvina
* Properties of Matter – B. Aggarwal
* Atomic Physics – J. B. Rajan
* Fundamental of Magnetism electricity – B.N. Basudeva
* A Text Book of Suond – Khanna & Bedi
* Nuclear Physics – D.C. Tayal
* Introduction of Electrodynamics – Griffith
* Advanced Level Physics – Nelkon & Parkar
* University Physics – Zeemasky
* Numerical Problems – B. Lal & Subrahmanyam
* Quantum Mechnaics – A Ghatak
* A Dictionary of Physics – Goldstein

Paper 1

* Classical Mechnism -Gupta, Kumar & Sharma
- Takewale & Puranik
-H.Goldstein
* Mechanics – Kleppner & Kolenkov
-D.S. Mathur
* Wave/Spl.Relatively – D.S. Mathur/Kleppner&Kolenkov
* Special Relativity-R.Resnic
-Gupta & Goyal
* Optics-Ajay Ghatak
-B.S. Agarwal
* Electrodyanamics – David Griffiths
* EM Theory -Chopra&Agarwal/Satya Prakash
* Thermal Physics – P.K Chakraborty
- Satya Prakash, Singhal & Agarawal
-Statistical Physics -B.B laud

Paper 2

* Quantum Physics- Resnick & Eisberg
* Concept of Mordern Physics – Arthut Bevser
* Quantum Mechanics -Ghatak & Loknathan
-Chatwal & Anand/Satya Prakash
* Atomic & Molecular Spectra -Rajkumar
* Nuclear Physics -S.B Patel
* Solid State Physics -Kittel
* Electronics -Allon Mottershed
* Objective Physics -H.C. Verma/TMH

* Theory of Mechanics – S S Rattan
* Theory of Mechanism and Mechanics – Jagdish Lal.
* Mechanic of Solids – Popru
* Manufacturing Science – Ghosh and Malik
* Manufacturing Technology – P N Rao
* Production Manangement – R K Jain
* Principals of Manufacturing Material & Process – Campbeu
* Fundamentals of Classed Thermodynamics – Van Wylen
* Heat Transfer – Gupta Prakash
* Heat and Mass Transfer – R. Yadav
* Energy Conversion – Sukhalmoy
* Environmental Pollution Central Engineering C S Rao
* Surveying and Levelling – T P Kanetakar
* Heat Conversion – Arora & Kundwar
* Manufacturing Science – R K Jain
* Thermodynamics – R Yadav

1. Indian Administration – Ramesh K. Arora & Rajni Goyal.
2. Indian Administration – S.R. Maheswari.
3. Administrative Theory – Avasti & Avasti
4. Public Administration – Avasti & Maheswari.
5. Administrative Thinkers – R. Prasad and Prasad.
6. Administrative Thinkers – S.R. Maheswari.
7. Public Administration – Sadan and Sharma
8. Local Government – S.R. Maheswari.
9. New Horizons of Public Administration – Mohit Bhattacharya.
10. Public Administration Theory and concepts – Rumki Basu
11. Public Administration (Manual) – Laxmikanth.
12. Indian Constitution – D.D. Basup (or) Pandey.
13. Public Administration and Public Affairs – Nicholas Henry.
14. Modern Public Administration – Nigro and Nigro.