Among the thousands of civil services aspirants are three inmates of Tihar Prisons, including a murder convict and an IITian, who appeared in the examination this time.

Siddharth Singh Sidar from Chhattisgarh, who is undergoing imprisonment for cheating and once trained IAS aspirants, Amit Jha from Bihar who was held for kidnapping and Sandeep from Uttar Pradesh, serving life imprisonment in a murder case, undertook the civil services preliminary examination.

Sidar, an IITian from Kharagpur, and Jha both came to Delhi to prepare for civil services before they were jailed.

All three are lodged inside Jail No. 3 of the Tihar Prison.

The results are expected to be out in about 45 days.

In 2009, a convict in a rape case had appeared for the civil services examination for the first time and was set free by the court after he qualified.

The current pattern of the civil services preliminary exams was conceived in 1979 on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission. Since then, for 41 years, the preliminary pattern sustained with only some minor changes once in ten or fifteen years. But from 2011 onwards, civil services aspirants should prepare themselves for a sea change in how they prepare for the preliminary examination as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has received the Union Government’s approval for introducing the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern.

So what will the CSAT be like?

* CSAT will have two papers common to all candidates with no optional paper
* There will be a paper to test the candidate’s aptitude for the prestigious civil services from the ethical and moral dimension
* The age limit could be lowered
* The number of attempts could also be reduced
* More emphasis on understanding and analysis than memorizing

What will be the impact of these changes?

* IAS candidates can no longer neglect the General Studies paper and rely solely on optionals to see them through
* UPSC might give preference to younger candidates with high motivation and zeal in the interview
* Coaching classes notes will not be enough to clear the CSAT exam
* Candidates with low moral and ethical aptitude will get weeded out, which is not happening currently

How should you prepare for the CSAT exams?

* Focus more on decision-oriented analytical questions
* Be prepared to answer situational questions faced in real life by the civil servants
* Questions will be more dynamic than at present
* Spruce up your general awareness and mental ability

Also, it’s certain that the mains pattern of the UPSC IAS exams will change from 2012 onwards after the introduction of UPSC CSAT exams in 2011. Most probably the civil services mains will also have common papers for all to eliminate the present practice of scaling which is detested by many candidates and public figures as well.

The current pattern of the civil services preliminary exams was conceived in 1979 on the recommendations of the Kothari Commission. Since then, for 41 years, the preliminary pattern sustained with only some minor changes once in ten or fifteen years. But from 2011 onwards, civil services aspirants should prepare themselves for a sea change in how they prepare for the preliminary examination as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has received the Union Government’s approval for introducing the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) pattern.

So what will the CSAT be like?

* CSAT will have two papers common to all candidates with no optional paper
* There will be a paper to test the candidate’s aptitude for the prestigious civil services from the ethical and moral dimension
* The age limit could be lowered
* The number of attempts could also be reduced
* More emphasis on understanding and analysis than memorizing

What will be the impact of these changes?

* IAS candidates can no longer neglect the General Studies paper and rely solely on optionals to see them through
* UPSC might give preference to younger candidates with high motivation and zeal in the interview
* Coaching classes notes will not be enough to clear the CSAT exam
* Candidates with low moral and ethical aptitude will get weeded out, which is not happening currently

How should you prepare for the CSAT exams?

* Focus more on decision-oriented analytical questions
* Be prepared to answer situational questions faced in real life by the civil servants
* Questions will be more dynamic than at present
* Spruce up your general awareness and mental ability

Also, it’s certain that the mains pattern of the UPSC IAS exams will change from 2012 onwards after the introduction of UPSC CSAT exams in 2011. Most probably the civil services mains will also have common papers for all to eliminate the present practice of scaling which is detested by many candidates and public figures as well.

1757 – Battle of Plassey: The British defeat Siraj-ud-daulah

1760 – Battle of Wandiwash: The British defeat the French

1761 – Third battle of Panipat

1764 – Battle of Buxar: The British defeat Mir Kasim

1765 – The British get Diwani Rights in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa

1767 -1769 – First Mysore War

1772 – Warren Hastings appointed as Governor of Bengal

1773 – The Regulating Act passed by the British Parliament

1775 -1782 – The First Anglo-Maratha war

1780-1784 – Second Mysore War : The British defeat Hyder Ali

1784 – Pitt’s India Act

1790-1792 – Third Mysore War between the British and Tipu

1793 – Permanent Settlement of Bengal

1799 – Fourth Mysore War: The British defeat Tipu

1802- Treaty of Bassein

1803-1805 – The Second Anglo-Maratha war

1814-1816 – The Anglo-Gurkha war

1817-1818 – The Pindari war

1824-1826 – The First Burmese war

1829 – Prohibition of Sati

1831 – Mysore administration taken over by East India Company

1833 – Renewal of Company’s Charter

1833 – Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Empire

1838 – Tripartite treaty between Shah Shuja, Ranjit Singh and the British

1839-1842 – First Afghan war

1843 – Gwalior war

1845-1846 – First Anglo-Sikh war

1848 – Lord Dalhousie becomes the Governor-General

1848-1849 – Second Anglo-Sikh war

1852 – Second Anglo-Burmese war

1853 – Railway & Telegraph line introduced

1857 – First War of Indian Independence: The Sepoy Mutiny

1857 – Zanshichi Rani Laxmibai – Freedom struggle in 1857

1858 – British Crown takes over the Indian Government

1877 – The Queen of England proclaimed Empress of India

1878 – Vernacular Press Act

1881 – Factory Act

1885 – First meeting of the Indian National Congress

1897 – Plague in Bombay; Famine Commission

1899 – Lord Curzon becomes Governor-General and Viceroy

1905 – The First Partition of Bengal

1906 – Formation of Muslim League

1911 – Partition of Bengal modified to create the Presidency of Bengal

1912 – The Imperial capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi

1913 – Educational Resolution of the Government of India

1915 – Defence of India Act

1916 – Home Rule League, Foundation of Women’s University at Poona

1919 – Rowlatt Act evokes protests; Jalianwalla Bagh massacre;

1920 – The Khilafat Movement started, Non-co-operation Movement

1921 – Moplah (Muslim) rebellion in Malabar; Census of India

1922 – Civil Disobedience Movement, Chauri-Chaura violence

1925 – Reforms Enquiry committee Report

1927 – Indian Navy Act; Simon Commission Appointed

1928 – Simon Commission comes to India: Boycott by all parties

1929 – Lord Irwin promises Dominion Status for India; Trade Union split

1930 – Salt Satyagraha, First Round Table Conference

1931 – Second Round Table Conference; Irwin-Gandhi Pact

1932 – Third Round Table Conference, Poona Pact

1934 – Civil Disobedience Movement called off; Bihar Earthquake

1937 – Inauguration of Provincial Autonomy

1939 – Political deadlock in India as Congress ministries resign

1942 – Cripps Mission, Quit India Movement, Indian National Army

1944 – Gandhi-Jinnah Talks break down on Pakistan issue

1946 – Interim Government formed, Constituent Assembly’s first meeting

1904 – 1947 – History of Indian Flag

3 June 1947 – Lord Mountbatten’s plan for partition of India

15 Aug 1947 – Partition of India and Independence

General Studies – 2000 (Main)
Time Allowed : Three Hours
Maximum Marks : 300
Candidate should attempt All questions strictly in accordance with instructions given under each question.

1. Answer any one of the following: (about 250 words)(30 marks)
* Trace the origin of the Swadeshi Movement. How did it involve the masses
* What was Mountbatten Plan ? Discuss the reactions of Gandhi and Azad to the Plan.

2. Answer any two of the following: (about 150 words) (2 X 15 = 30 marks)
* Who established the Arya Samaj ? What was its goal ?
* How did the terrorist movement gather strength in countries other than India?
* Was Jawaharlal Nehru justified in adopting the principle of non-alignment as the corner-stone of India’s foreign policy ?

3. Write notes on the following: (about 20 words ) (15 X 2 = 30 marks)
* Brahmagupta
* Amir Khusro
* William Jones
* C.F. Andrews
* Narayan Guru
* Tantia Tope
* Sayyid Ahmad
* Margaret Noble
* Sangam Literature
* Gandhara School of art
* Granth Sahib
* Fort William College
* Epsom
* Lala Amarnath
* Tiger Woods.

4. Answer any two of the following: (about 125 words) (2 X 10 = 20 marks)
* Mention the agro-climatic regions of India stating the basis of classification.
* Explain the major racial groups of India.
* What is waste land ? Write a note on prospects of waste land development in India.

5. write short notes on the following: (about 20 words) (5 X 2 = 10 marks)
* Linguistic regions of India
* Nagarjunasagar Project
* Mango Showers
* Multi-level planning in India
* India’s Laterite soils.

6. Answer any one of the following: (about 250 words) (30 marks)
* Examine the need for the review of the Indian Constitution.
* Examine the demand for greater State-antonomy and also its impact on the smooth functioning of the Indian polity.

7. Answer any one of the following: (about 150 words) (30 marks)
* How does Parliament control the Union Executive ? How effective is its control ?
* What constitutes the doctrine of ‘basic features’ as introduced into the Constitution of India by the Judiciary ?

8. Answer any TWO of the following (About 150 words each) (15 x 2 = 30 marks)
* Identify, the major electoral reforms which are necessary in the Indian Political System.
* Examine the role of Estimates Committee.
* Discuss the major extra-constitutional factors influencing the working of federal polity in India.

9. Answer the following: (about 20 words) (2 X 5 = 10 marks)
* What is vote on account ?
* What is a Caretaker Government ?
* Do you justify the Prime Minister’s entry into Parliament through the Rajya Sabha ?
* What is a Privilege Motion ?
* What is Contempt of Parliament ?

10. Answer any one of the following: (about 250 words) (30 marks)
* Discuss the provisions of the Human Rights Protection ACt (1993) relating to the following :-
1. Definition of human rights.
2. Composition of the National Human Rights Commission.
3. Functions of the Commission.
4. What suggestions have been made for amending the Act for making the role of the NHRC more effective ?
* Discuss the propositions laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the context of Torture in Prisons and Human Dignity.

11. Answer any two of the following: (about 125 words) (2 X 10 = 20 marks)
* Explain Public Interest Litigation. Who can file it and on what basis can it be rejected by the Court of Law ?
* Discuss Human Genome.
* What are the features of the Uttar Pradesh Regulation of Public Religious Buildings and Places Bill, 2000, that have caused widespread protests from minorities ?

12. Write short notes on any two of the following: (about 125 words) (2 X 10 = 20 marks)
* Universal Postal Union
* Economic and Social Council
* Florence Nightingale.

13. Write about the following (about 20 words) (5 X 2 = 10 marks)
* CRY
* Baba Amte
* Ali Sardar Jafri
* ‘Water’
* Aruna Roy.

IAS MAIN – 2007
SOCIOLOGY

Paper- I

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300
(more content follows the advertisement below)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should attempt all questions 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.

SECTION A

1. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20×3=60

(a) Sociology as a science of society

(b) Talcott Parson’s concept of social system

(c) Social Facts

(d) Robert Merton’s View on Manifest and latent functions

2. Explain Karl Marks analysis of capitalistic mode of production and class struggle. What are the intellectual
reactions to his view? 60

3. What is the subject-matter of sociology according to Max Weber? Which Major methods did he suggest for
social science research? Illustrate your answer with his sociological contributions. 60

4. Elaborate Emile Durkheim’s analysis of the elementary forms of religion life and role of religion in society. How does he explain existence of religion in modern industrial society? 60

SECTION B

5. Write short notes on any three of the following in about 200 words each: 20×3=60

(a) Changing structure of family

(b) Role conflict and its resolution

(c) Education as an instrument of social change

(d) Features of Pre-Industrial Economic system.

6. Indicates social determinates of economic development. Discuss any one sociological perspective analyzing backwardness and poverty in the development society. 60

7. What are the structural elements of a social movement? State how a social movement comes to its end. Illustrate your answer with example. 60

8. Explain the meaning and modes of political participation. What are the factors preventing people’s participation in Politics in India 60

Paper- II

SECTION-A

1. Write critical notes on any THREE of the following in not more than 200 words each: – 20×3=60

(a) Problem of Dowry

(b) Sanskritiation

(c) Programme for Urban development

(d) Problems of urban development

2. Discuss the role of various reform movements in India? 60

3. Describe the salient features of poverty alleviation programme. What modification would you suggest to make them more effective 60

4. Discuss the various problems of tribal communities in India and access the impact of tribal development efforts after independence. 60

SECTION-B

5. Write critical notes on any THREE of the following in not more than 200 words each: – 20×3=60

(a). Education and social mobility

(b). Regionalism

(c). Market economy and its social consequence

(d). Agrarian Unrest

6. Discuss the major problems of religions fundamentalism in contemporary India. Give suggestion to tackle these problems. 60

7. Discuss the social consequence of economic reforms like liberalization, privatization and globalization. 60

8. Discuss the impact of legislation and social economic changes on marriage and family institutions. Are these institutions weakening in contemporary India ? 60

Public Administration 2006 Main

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.

Paper I
Section A

1.Answer any three of the following questions in not more than 200 words each: 20×3=60
(a)If public administration is to play a major legitimizing role in governing our complex society, it needs to be more fully conceptualized. Discuss.
(b)Simons work has had major implications for the study of public administration and the practice of public administration professionalism. Comment.
(c)The main problem with Mary Parker Follett’s work is that her idealism is showing. Explain.
(d)Autonomy and accountability in Public Enterprises cannot walk together. Explain.

2.Critically examine the Classical Science of Administration with special reference to its criticism by Dwight Waldo and Robert Dahl. 60

3.Define the term civil society. How does civil society influence the public policy? 60

4.Today the content of administrative law is driven primarily by the scope of public administrative activity. Explain. 60

Section B

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

(a)The rise of information technology is an opportunity to overcome historical disabilities. Explain.
(b)Audit continues to be considered as something alien, something extraneous and something of the nature of an impediment. Explain.
(c)Nothing comes across more strongly than the great naivete about policy implementation. Discuss.
(d)Successfully implementing budgeting approach requires favourable incentive structures. Discuss.

6.Do you agree with the view that development administration has in recent years lost its impetus without making any significant intellectual breakthrough? Discuss.60

7.To what extent has the human relations movement contributed to the knowledge and practice within the field of personnel administration? 60

8.Discuss the main approaches to increase the efficiency of government and public administration. 60

PAPER II
SECTION A

1.Comment on any three of the following in not amore than 200 words each: 20×3=60
(a)In the happiness of his subjects lies the kings happiness; in their welfare his welfare. Comment on Kautilyan state administration. In what respects is modern democratic rulers behavior different from Kautilyan rulers?
(b)The basic values of the Constitution of India enshrine social, political and economic philosophy symbolizing sovereignty of the people, rule of law and basic characteristics of a socialist, secular, democratic republic. comment.
(c)The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments are major landmarks in Indias Constitutional History and Local Governance. Comment.
(d)Not the Potomac, but the Thames, fertilizes the flow of Yamuna. In the light of the statement comment on the symbolic institution of the President of India.

2.The role played by the National Human Rights commission in Maintaining and preserving dignity of Indias citizens has been satisfactory and up to the expectations. Elucidate. 60

3.Indian Prime Minister should not only be accountable to the Indian Parliament but should appear to be so. Comment on the accountability of the Prime Minister to the Indian Parliament in the context of extra-constitutional power. 60

4.The District Collector, the additional Deputy Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Officer, have virtually become officers-in-attendance and have lost initiative and independence of judgement . Comment. 60

SECTION B

5.Comment on any three of the following in not more than 200 words each; 20×3=60
(a)The generalist character of I.A.S. is its chief characteristic as well as its chief criticism. Comment.
(b)All efforts in the field of reforms in public administration by the political executive have resulted in no significant output.Comment.
(c)By taking some offices out of the jurisdiction of the Office of Profit Act, the Government of India has doubly assured the public mind of its duplicity. Comment.
(d)Audit, like the judiciary, the executive and the legislature is one of the Important ingredients of democracy. Comment.

6.The main problem of Centre-State relations in India is bottlenecks in fiscal federalism. Comment. 60

7.Lok-Ayuktas are judicial institutions without adequate teeth. Comment. 60

8.(a) Critically evaluate the policies of the Union Government with regard to the welfare of women and children of India in not more than 200 words.
(a)What measures have been taken by the Union and the States for the Welfare of women in the profession of sex?
(b)What concrete steps have been taken by the Union and the State Governments to protect child labour and prevent abuse of children?40+10+10=60

The second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its latest report has suggested a number of radical changes for revamping the Civil Services Examination system.

ARC, headed by Congress leader M Veerappa Moily, has suggested bringing a new civil services law with provisions of performance-based continuation of service, accountability and new system of promotion and cadre allotment. The 377-page report also talks about mandatory training at different stages of a civil servant’s career.

Major recommendations for Civil Services Examination aspirants

1. Permissible age for appearing in the Civil Services Examination should be 21 to 25 years for general candidates, 21 to 28 years for OBCs and 21 to 29 for SC/STs and physically challenged as against existing upper age limit of 30 for general, 33 for OBCs and 35 for SC/STs.

2.  Number of permissible attempts should be 3, 5, 6 and 6 for general, OBC, SC/ST and physically challenged as against existing 4, 7 and unlimited (subject to age limit) for general, OBC and SC/ST respectively.

3. Present cut-off date for determining eligibility in terms of age (August 1 in the year of exam) may continue.

4. Number of short-listed candidates after preliminary exam should be two to three times of the number of vacancies.

5.  Preliminary Examination – Only one or two general studies papers (including Constitution of India, Indian legal system, Indian economy, polity, history and culture). There should be no optional subject — as is the current practice.

6. Main Examination — Only compulsory subjects (2 papers) and essay
(one paper); no optional subject. Currently, aspirants have to appear in two optional subjects — two papers each — besides essay and general studies.

7. DoPT should finalise the syllabi of compulsory subjects for both the preliminary and main examination for the recruitment cycle of 2010.

8. Compulsory induction of officers of State Civil Services into IAS.

9.  Compulsory cadre allocation for north-eastern states.