General Information About Civil Services Examinations

General Information About Civil Services Examinations

This site is aimed to help students and others interested in the study of zoology and preparation for various competitive examinations such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) & Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The information given in this website is available free of any charge. However, commercial use or redistribution of the information provided on this website is strictly prohibited.

Also see the following websites-

http://www.upsc.gov.in

http://www.civilserviceindia.com

LIST OF CIVIL SERVICES INCLUDED IN IAS EXAM 

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 

IAS–PRILIMINARY EXAMINATION, w.e.f. 2011

The Preliminary Examination is meant to serve as screening test and has all objective type of questions. This examination is conducted according to the following pattern— With effect from 2011, the pattern of preliminary exam. has changed. There will be no optional subject in prelim. exam. now and the two papers will be as follows:

PAPERSUBJECT DURATIONMARKS
IGeneral Studies/Current events2 hrs 200
IIComprehension/Reasoning2 hrs 200

I.General Studies paper includes Current events of national and international importance; History of India and Indian National Movement; Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System. Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development. Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate. General Science.

II. Comprehension & Reasoning paper includes Comprehension Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
Logical reasoning and analytical ability. Decision making and problem solving. General mental ability. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) (Class X level). Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data
sufficiency etc. -Class X level). English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).

IAS Mains Examination

CHANGED PATTERN OF IAS MAINS, w.e.f. 2013

The Civil Services Examination, 2013 will consist of the following:

  • The Civil Services PreliminaryExamination (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for the Main Examination
  • Civil Services Main Examination ( will consist of 7 written papers) and
  • A Final Interview for those who pass the Main Exam.

Following is a tabulated form of the papers one shall have to opt for :

Paper No.

Paper Title

Marks

Paper I

Section I : Essay

200

Section II: English Comprehension and English Precis, X level

100

Paper II

General Studies-I, Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

250

Paper III

General Studies-II, Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

250

Paper IV

General Studies-III, Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

250

Paper V

General Studies-IV, Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 

250

Paper VI

Optional Subject – Paper 1

250

Paper VII

Optional Subject – Paper 2

250

Total marks in mains written exam. 1800

Personality Test (for those who clear the mains exam.) 275 marks

Grand Total: 2075 marks

Those who are declared by the Commission as qualified in the Preliminary Examination are eligible for appearing in the Mains Examination of that year, and those who clear the mains exam. will be called for interview or Personality Test.

From preliminary exams, 12-13 times the number of posts are selected as qualified to appear in the mains exam.

In 2012, 2674 candidates were selected from the mains and were called for interview.

About the author

Dr. Girish Chandra administrator

Dr. Girish Chandra, retired Professor from Delhi University, has been teaching zoology for over 40 years and conducting research in insect taxonomy and pest control, particularly biological control and integrated pest management.