Mains Examination
Mains Examination syllabus, pattern and schedule is different for Civil Service and Forest Service Examination.
Civil Service Mains Examinations
The candidates who qualify for Civil Service Mains Examination have to choose one
optional subject which has two papers. The mains 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. The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a
well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a
candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in the Civil Services.
The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, ability to analyze and take
a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and
succinct answers. The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the
honours degree level i.e. a level higher than the bachelors degree and lower than the masters degree. In the case of
Engineering, Medical Science and Law, the level corresponds to the bachelors degree. In all, the aspirants are to appear in nine papers, details of which are given below:Subjects | Papers | Marks |
---|
Indian Language * | Paper–A | 300 |
English * | Paper–B | 300 |
Essay | Paper–I | 250 |
General Studies 1 | Paper–I | 250 |
General Studies 2 | Paper–II | 250 |
General Studies 2 | Paper–III | 250 |
General Studies 4 | Paper–IV | 250 |
Optional Subject | Paper–VI | 250 |
Optional Subject | Paper–VII | 250 |
* Qualifying Papers - For qualifying, candidates have to secure a minimum of 25% in
these papers.