New MAINS Syllabus, New Strategy?

Dear Aspirants, 

First, Best Wishes for the upcoming Prelims on 26th May. 

By now, you must have looked at the changed pattern of Civil Services Mains Exam. 

Many of you might have panicked - quite unnecessarily we must say, if you did.

Some of you might have decided on your Optional right away !!!!!!

However, we guess almost all of you - are excited and would desire some discussion on this change.

Now, 

1. What's the big CHANGE? 

There is 1 optional instead of 2 ...........A sigh of relief no doubt ! Volume of study will definitely come down.

2. GS was of 600 marks - now, its of 1000 marks

 

4 papers of GS of 250 marks each. It has been compartmentalised - lot of additional materials exclusively mentioned - and hence a clearer strategy could be formulated for it. 

3. Essay was of 200 marks, now 250 marks - 

So, more weight-age to it. 

 

Essay remains as the crucial paper - if NOT has become more significant.

4. Prelims pattern remains the same.............

 

5. Now, please look at the revised GS syllabus once 

The additional topics are:

a. World History

b. World Geog

c. Security Studies

d. An additional paper on Ethics, Integrity & Values of Administration.

6. Our suggestions are:

a. History, Pub Ad, Pol Sc & Geography were very good optionals - NOW in the revised scenario have become BETTER optionals. 

Why? 

b. Well, full Indian HISTORY + World HIST in GS ....see paper 2 of GS.

see paper 3. - replete with PUB AD + POL SC topics

see paper 5 - new paper no doubt - but if one peeps into the detailed syllabi - lots of issues of PUB AD [like RTI, grievance redressal mechanism, citizen's charter], issues of GEOG. [agricultural crops], and HIST [Important personalities in Indian freedom movement & their philosophies]

see paper 4 - new topic - Security studies - it contains Internal security , border problems, security agencies like NSG, BSF, CRPF etc.

c. So, our word of caution - if one has studied PUB AD/HIST/POLS Sc/GEOG. for a sufficient length of time as Optionals in the old format, pls DO NOT abandon it. 

Studying a completely new subject is NOT likely to pay dividends. And it won't be a wise decision either. 

More on this,,,later.