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.

iaspapers.info/category/bengali" title='Read more about Bengali'>Bengali Syllabus for IAS Exam

Paper-I

iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History of Language and Literature.

Answers must be written in Bangali.

Section-A

Topics from the iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History of Bangla language

1. The chronological track from Proto Indo-European to Bangla (Family tree with branches and approximate dates).

2. Historical stages of Bangla (Old, Middle, New) and their linguistic features.

3. Dialects of Bangla and their distinguishing characteristics.

4. Elements of Bangla Vocabulary.

5. Forms of Bangla Literary Prose-Sadhu and Chalit.

6. Processes of language change relevant for Bangla.

Apinihiti (Anaptyxis), Abhishruti (umlaut), Murdhanyibhavan (cerebralization), Nasikyibhavan (Nasalization), Samibhavan (Assimilation), Sadrishya (Analogy), Svaragama (Vowel insertion)-Adi Svaragama, Madhya Svaragama or Svarabhakti, Antya Svaragama, Svarasangati (Vowel hormony), y-shruti and w-shruti.

7. Problems of standardization and reform of alphabet and spelling, and those of transliteration and Romanization.

8. Phonology, Morphology and Syntax of Modern Bangla.

(Sounds of Modern Bangla, Conjuncts; word formations, compounds; basic sentence patterns.)

Section-B

Topics from the iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History of Bangla Literature.

1. Periodization of Bangla Literature : Old Bangla and Middle Bangla.

2. Points of difference between modern and pre-modern Bangla Literature.

3. Roots and reasons behind the emergence of modernity in Bangla Literature.

4. Evolution of various Middle Bangla forms : Mangal kavyas, Vaishnava lyrics, Adapted narratives (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata) and religious biographies.

5. Secular forms in middle Bangla literature.

6. Narrative and lyric trends in the nineteenth century Bangla poetry.

7. Development of prose.

8. Bangla dramatic literature (nineteenth century, Tagore, Post-1944 Bangla drama).

9. Tagore and post-Tagoreans.

10. Fiction, major authors :

(Bankimchandra, Tagore, Saratchandra, Bibhutibusan, Tarasankar, Manik).

11. Women and Bangla literature : creators and created.

Paper-II

Prescribed texts for close study.

Answers must be written in Bangali.

Section-A

1. Vaishnava Padavali (Calcutta University)

Poems of Vidyapati, Chandidas, Jnanadas, Govindadas and Balaramdas.

2. Chandimangal Kalketu episode by Mukunda (Sahitya Akademi).

3. Chaitanya Charitamrita Madya Lila, by Krishnadas Kaviraj (Sahitya Akademi).

4. Meghnadbadh Kavya by Madhusudan Dutta.

5. Kapalkundala by Bankimchandra Chattarjee.

6. Samya and Bangadesher Krishak by Bankimchandra Chatterjee.

7. Sonar Tari by Rabindranath Tagore.

8. Chhinnapatravali by Rabindranath Tagore.

Section-B

9. Raktakarabi by Rabindranath Tagore.

10. Nabajatak by Rabindranath Tagore.

11. Grihadaha by Saratchandra Chatterjee.

12. Prabandha Samgraha Vol. 1, by Pramatha Choudhuri.

13. Aranyak by Bibhutibhusan Banerjee

14. Short stories by Manik Bandyopadhyay : Atashi Mami, Pragaitihasik, Holud-Pora, Sarisrip, Haraner Natjamai, Chhoto-Bokulpurer Jatri, Kustharogir Bou, Jakey Ghush Ditey Hoy.

15. Shrestha Kavita by Jibanananda Das.

16. Jagori by Satinath Bhaduri.

17. Ebam Indrajit by Badal Sircar.

Paper – I
Time Allowed: Three Hours
Maximum Marks : 300

Candidates should attempt Questions 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. Write short notes on any three of the following (each answer should not exceed 200 words) : (a) Sociology as an interpretative discipline

(b) A good hypothesis

(c) Anomie

(d) Types of mobility

2. Is it possible to study social phenomenon scientifically ? Give a critical answer.

3. Critically examine Max Weber’s theory of social action and its limitations.

4. Discuss Talcott Parsons’ contribution to the analysis of social system.

SECTION-B
5. Write short notes on any three of the following (each answer should not exceed 200 words) :
(a) Fundamentals of religion

(b) Concept of social movement

(c) Role of education in social development

(d) Industrialization and social change

6. “Education is an instrument of social control and social change,” Critically examine the statement.

7. What are the problems of universalisation of primary education ? Discuss fully.

8. Explain the concept of social change. Critically examine the contribution of Karl Marx’s theory of social change.

Paper – II

SECTION A
1. Write short notes on any three of the following (each answer should not exceed 200 words each)
(a) Pluralism and national unity

(b) Industrial class structure in India

(c) Impact of Islam on Indian society

(d) Social consequences of occupational diversification

2. Outline the social factors related to generation gap. How has the generation gap led to the problems of youth unrest ?

3. Describe the sociocultural background of the political elites of contemporary India. What has been the influence of their background on their political orientations ?

4. Caste is becoming weaker and stronger at the same time in present day India. ‘ Discuss the factors responsible for continuity and change.

SECTION-B
5. Write short on any three of the following (in not more than 200 words each) :

(a) Social proVirtual of slums

(b) Social dimensions of drug addiction

(c) Issues of tribal identity

(d) Communal tensions in India

6. Describe the role played by education in social mobility.
Do you think that education has been the most important factor in accelerating social mobility in modern Indian society ? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

7. What changes have taken place in the tribal social stratification pattern in recent times ? Describe the factors responsible for these changes.

8. Describe the factors related to social movements. In the light of these factors explain the emergence of peasant movement in India.

The subject should be chosen with high amount of awareness and precision.

One should keep in mind various points as the paper IAS objective type in the prelims round. One should see the thoroughness, the level, availability of books, type of subject etc before choosing one.

A good amount of general knowledge is significant, hence one needs to be updated with the current events and news by thoroughly reading magazines, newspapers, television, quiz shows etc. to be aware of it, as GK counts majorly in the exam scores and ranking of the candidate.

Enhancement of one’s personality, both physical as well as mental, is very necessary. As IAS is not a cake walk hence it is important to keep themselves fit and fine.

Then, there are other points to polish like one’s reading skills, level on concentration, speed of writing, speaking skills, management’s skills etc which needs to be taken care of to clear an IAS exam.

Preparation Tips For IAS Exam:

* One needs to put in a lot of time dedication plus concentrated devotion to prepare thoroughly for IAS exam

* One should ideally go for preparing in the reverse order, and tune up his time-management skills and rational thinking

* Writing skills should be excellent, as it being a paper which includes essay and iaspapers.info/category/english" title='Read more about English'>English writing exams. One should have good and speedy writing skills as well as good expression of thoughts. One should practice by reading a lot and writing lot of essays

* Thorough study of all the subjects and those chosen by the candidate for his/her prelims, checking the availability of books and going through the best author, being update on the Latest happenings all over the globe and good knowledge of GK are again very essential

General iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics
1) Micro-economics : (a) Production : Agents of Production; Costs and Supply; Isoquants (b) Consumption and Demand; Elasticity concept (c) Market Structure and concepts of equilibrium; (d) Determination of prices; (e) Components and Theories of Distribution (f) Elementary concepts of Welfare economics : Pareto-optimality-Private and social products-consumers surplus.
2) Macro-economics : (a) National Income concepts; (b) Determinants of National Income Employment (c) Determinants of consumption, savings and Investment (d) Rate of Interest and its determination (e) Interest and profit.
3) Money, Banking and Public Finance : (a) Concepts of Money and measures of money supply; velocity of money (b) Banks and credit creation; Banks and portfolio management. (c) Central Bank and control over money supply (d) Determination of the price level. (e) Inflation, its causes and remedies. (f) Public, Finance-Budgets-Taxes and non-tax revenues-Types of Budget deficits.
4) International iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics : (a) Theories of International Trade-comparative costs-Heckscher-Ohlin-Gains from Trade-Terms of Trade. (b) Free Trade and Protection. (c) Balance of Payments accounts and Adjustment. (d) Exchange rate under free exchange markets. (e) Evolution of the International Monetary System and World Trading order-Gold Standard-the Brettonwoods system. IMF and the World Bank and their associates. Floating rates-GATT and WTO
(5) Growth and Development : (a) Meaning and measurement of growth; Growth, distribution and Welfare; (b) Characteristics of underdevelopment; (c) Stages of Development; (d) Sources of growth-capital, Human capital, population, productivity, Trade and aid, non-economic factors; growth Strategies, (e) Planning in a mixed economy-Indicative planning-Planning and growth.
(6) Economic Statistics : Types of averages-measures of dispersion-correlation-Index numbers; types, uses and limitations.

Part-II
Indian iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics
1. Main features; Geographic size-Endowment of natural resources, Population; size, composition quality and growth trend-Occupational distribution-Effects of British Rule with reference to Drain theory and Laissez Faire policy.
2. Major problems, their dimensions, nature and broad causes; Mass poverty-Unemployment and its types-iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics effects of population pressure-Inequality and types thereof-Low productivity and low per capita income, Rural-urban disparities-Foreign Trade and payments imbalances. Balance of Payments and External Debt- Inflation, and parallel economy and its effects-Fiscal deficit.
3. Growth in income and employment since Independence-Rate, Pattern, Sectoral trends-Distributional Changes-Regional disparities.
4. Economic Planning in India : Major controversies on planning in India-Alternative strategies-goals and achievements, shortfalls of different plans-planning and the Market.
5. Broad Fiscal, monetary, industrial trade and agricultural policies-objectives, rationale, constraints and effects.

The key to success is Time Management and therefore it becomes important to squeeze out the most out of even a second.

In order to manage your day, it is better to have a personal sense of time log; this will help you track how you spend the day. Divide each day for a period of two weeks into one hour intervals and write down what are you going to do in the two slots. Under them you can divide the activities and examine your time log. You may come to know that very little time goes into top priority works and more time is wasted in coffee breaks, chatting and receiving phone calls. Try to deduce the time spent on these ineffective activities or stop doing them altogether. After cutting down on these things you will find that your efficiency level is increasing and obviously the end results will be on your side. Also, just take a look at the following points, as these can prove to be helpful while u prepare:

• While preparing for a set of subjects in IAS syllabus, ensure that you would be appearing for a multiple choice question papers, where subjects such as iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History, maths and geography may prove to be highly scoring. Choose subjects whose preparation material like IAS Exam Material books, IAS Comprehension Test, reading material and guidance books are easily available in the market.
• Your General Knowledge will definitely pay in your IAS prelims examination which can be improved through keeping a tab on day to day happenings by reading newspaper, watching television news, etc.
• For all those who are lucky enough to clear IAS mains and reach interview stage, then bookish knowledge itself won’t do. Mind alertness counts when somebody asks tricky questions on “how many steps you walked to reach the office?”
• Improving the personality is quite important as this will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. Physical and mental wellbeing is quite important for IPS.
• Try to enhance your communication skills as the civil servants must be proficient in at least one foreign language.

Time Management

1. While preparing for a set of subjects in IAS syllabus, ensure that you would be appearing for a multiple choice question papers, where subjects such as iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History, maths and geography may prove to be highly scoring. Choose subjects whose preparation material like IAS Exam Material books, IAS Comprehension Test, reading material and guidance books are easily available in the market.

2. Your General Knowledge will definitely pay in your IAS prelims examination which can be improved through keeping a tab on day to day happenings by reading newspaper, watching television news, etc.

3. For all those who are lucky enough to clear IAS mains and reach interview stage, then bookish knowledge itself won’t do. Mind alertness counts when somebody asks tricky questions on “how many steps you walked to reach the office?”

4. Improving the personality is quite important as this will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. Physical and mental wellbeing is quite important for IPS.

5. Try to enhance your communication skills as the civil servants must be proficient in at least one foreign language.

Tips on iaspapers.info/category/ias-preparation" title='Read more about IAS Preparation'>IAS Preparation

1. Be very particular about the subject you choose for prelims, as you will be appearing for an objective type of paper. iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History, maths, geography may prove to be very scoring. Choose subjects which have availability of books, reading material and guidance. In recent years engineering subjects like civil and electrical can be chosen, giving BEs and IITians an edge (yes! even here they are giving the BAs and BScs a tough fight!)

2. G.K. will definitely pay in your prelims. Reading newspapers, watching TV news and of course quiz shows like KBC is a must.

3. If you have been lucky enough to reach the interview stage book knowledge may not be the only thing you need. Your mental alertness will count as they ask you questions like “How many steps did you walk up to reach here?” or “ What is the colour of the wall behind you ?” – So be prepared.

4. Enhance your personality because it will definitely be one of the criteria for selection. For IPS physical wellbeing is of great importance, you should be medically fit.

5. Improve your communication skills. IFS aspirants must be proficient in at least one foreign language. So go ahead, have your say in this political mess of our country and try to make it a better place.

The competitive Examination is conducted as per the following three steps:

Step I- Preliminary Examination
IAS prelims is written objective type examination and is conducted in the month of June every year with two following papers:

Paper I- iaspapers.info/category/general-studies" title='Read more about General Studies'>General Studies paper with maximum mark 150 against 150 questions. The exam expands over two hours and questions are asked from six topics which are Indian iaspapers.info/category/history" title='Read more about History'>History, Constitution of India, iaspapers.info/category/geography" title='Read more about Geography'>Geography, iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics, Science and iaspapers.info/category/current-affairs" title='Read more about Current Affairs'>Current Affairs.

Paper II- The second paper is an optional of student’s choice which may include Political Science, Psychology, iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics, Physics, and iaspapers.info/category/economics" title='Read more about Economics'>Economics etc. This exam has maximum marks 300 against 120 questions and is two hour long.

IAS prelims are very competitive and therefore only highest scorers qualify for the second stage that is the Main Examination. It is quite interesting to note that the qualifying percentage is 10% in preliminary examination.

Step II- Main Examination
IAS Mains is a written examination which is a subjective or essay type format. This is generally conducted in the month of November/December. IAS Mains expands over nine papers:

Paper I & II- Language papers with maximum marks 300 each. One paper is iaspapers.info/category/english" title='Read more about English'>English which is mandatory and the other is any Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution. Passing these papers with a certain minimum percentage is necessary.

Paper III- This is a subjective type paper with maximum marks 200. Student can opt to write in either iaspapers.info/category/english" title='Read more about English'>English or any other Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

Paper IV and V- iaspapers.info/category/general-studies" title='Read more about General Studies'>General Studies with General Knowledge and iaspapers.info/category/current-affairs" title='Read more about Current Affairs'>Current Affairs and maximum marks of 300

Paper VI, VII, VIII and IX- Two optional subjects, with two papers thereby making it four papers with 300 each and total marks of 1200.

Those who pass IAS mains are further reduced with a ratio of 1:10 to direct students to the next level that is Personality Test.

Step III- Personality Test
This is the final elimination stage and as expected the competition is highest at this stage. Candidates are selected with a ratio of 1:2 and therefore with 10 vacancies, twenty candidates are called for interview. These candidates are tested on their personality, social traits, teamwork and leadership qualities and their aptitude and skills that are usually involved in work.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.