Get The CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Syllabus

Civil Services Examination is considered as the mother of all competitive exams. Students from different streams compete with each other to bag a rank in the IAS merit list. This exam is the highest test of the candidate’s patience, perseveration, dedication, and determination to achieve a goal. If you are an IAS 2018 aspirant, then besides mental preparation, you should know about some basic facts about the IAS exam. One such important thing is to read the CSE 2018 syllabus carefully and thoroughly. For this exam, the syllabus is like the bible. You will be required to refer to it frequently.

If you are appearing in the CSE/IAS 2018 Mains Exam, then the first thing you should know that the CSE 2018 Mains syllabus is five times more comprehensive than the Preliminary exam. Read this article to know the CSE 2018 Mains syllabus in detail –

CSE/IAS 2018 Mains Exam Syllabus

Unlike CSE Preliminary exam, CSE Mains scores are counted while preparing the final order of the merit list. So, a candidate should not rest or take a break after qualifying the Preliminary exam. Rather, they should pull up their socks for the final run of the CSE Mains exam. Their first step should be to read the CSE/IAS 2018 Mains syllabus carefully.

CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Exam: Number of Papers

There are total 9 papers in the CSE/ IAS Mains exam.

Qualifying Papers

Two papers out of the nine papers are only qualifying in nature, namely –

• Paper A - Indian language paper (A candidate should select any one of the languages from the Eighth language schedule of the Constitution of India).
• Paper B - English

Papers which marks will be counted in the final ‘Merit List’

Paper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 marks will be added for preparing the final merit list of the exam.

Detailed CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Syllabus for Qualifying Papers

CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Syllabus for Paper ‘A’ – Indian Language

The questions in the Indian Language paper will be of Standard 10th level. The pattern of questions in this paper will be as follows –

• Precise Writing
• Comprehension Passages
• Short Essays
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Translation from the English language to the Indian language

CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Syllabus for Paper ‘B’ – English

The questions in the English paper will be of Standard 10th level. The pattern of questions in this paper will be as follows –

• Comprehension Passages
• Precise Writing
• Usage and Vocabulary
• Short Essays

 Detailed CSE/ IAS 2018 Mains Syllabus for Qualifying Papers

Paper -1: Essay

Candidates are required to write an essay on any one of the given topics. They are tested for their level of general awareness about the various social, political, environmental, and scientific issues. They should present their thoughts and ideas in a coherent, systematic, and orderly manner.

There is no defined syllabus for the essay paper. Any topic of general importance can be asked in the exam.

Paper -2: General Studies -1  

Major Areas –

1. Indian Culture and Heritage
2. World History
3. Geography of the World and Society

Topics in Detail

• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Salient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Paper – 3: General Studies – 2

Major Areas

1. Governance
2. Constitution
3. Polity
4. Social Justice and International Relations

Topics in Detail

• Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. 

Paper – 4: General Studies – 3

Major Areas

1. Technology,
2. Economic Development
3. Bio diversity
4. Environment
5. Security
6. Disaster Management

Topics in Detail

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. 
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

PAPER 5: General Studies- 4

Major Areas of the Syllabus

1. Ethics and Integrity
2. Aptitude

Topics in Detail

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on above issues.

Paper 5 and Paper 6 are optional subjects chosen by a candidate for the exam.