Civil Services Examination (Mains)
Ranjan K Baruah *
Many students have asked me a basic question after publishing articles related to civil services examination. I am trying to give consolidated reply and at the same time we are also publishing about mains examination.
Well, one may start preparing at an early age for the civil services a examination. As the general studies is a vast area, so one need to prepare sincerely from an early age.
Reading newspapers and various magazines helps one to improve general knowledge and latest current affairs. Prelims is objective type, so, it is important to learn more and one do not need any writing skills here as its just objective.
Writing skill is needed in the mains as one need to write essays and others. We shall publish more about mains in our next edition.
One of the best way is to collect previous years question paper and start cracking them. Mock test always enhances confidence and knowledge. Aspirants may also try to take admission in coaching centre but there is no guarantee from any coaching centre that someone may surely crack civil services.
Many students ask me about coaching centre and their importance. Well, taking admission in coaching centre is off course helpful but it depends upon the student and their preparation.
The main examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.
In the main exam there are 7 + 2 = 9 papers to be answered in the main examination. All of them are of descriptive type.
There are two qualifying papers 1) any modern Indian language of 300 marks 2) English of 300 marks. The marks of these two papers will not be counted in the merit list of the main examination. The candidate is allowed to pick any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English as the medium for writing the mains examination.
There is only “ONE” optional subject to choose from the list of subjects. It comprises of two papers each of 300 marks. So the optional paper has total 600 marks. Candidate is allowed to take up literature as an optional subject “without the condition of having the same at graduation level.”
The scope of the syllabus of optional paper is higher than the bachelor’s degree but lower than the master’s level. Interview/Personality Test is of 275 Marks. The total mark of the written examination is 1750 marks.
Following are the papers in the mains exam
Paper – A -Language -300 Marks (Candidate can take any Modern Indian language but this paper is of qualifying nature)
Paper – B—English -300 Marks (This paper is of qualifying nature)
Paper – I—Essay – 250 Marks (Can be written in the medium or language of the candidate’s choice)
Paper-II—General Studies-I —250 Marks (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
Paper-III—General Studies -II: 250 Marks (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
Paper-IV—General Studies -III 250 Marks (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
Paper-V—General Studies -IV —250 Marks (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude).
Marks carried by General Studies papers are 4 X 250=1000
Paper-VI—Optional Subject –
Paper 1 -250 Marks Paper-VII—Optional Subject –
Paper II -250 Marks
We shall publish more about mains in our forthcoming editions.
* Ranjan K Baruah wrote this article for The Sangai Express
Ranjan K Baruah is a social activist and career mentor and can be reached at bkranjan(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was posted on October 02 , 2016.
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