New Syllabus and Content and strategy for Civil Services Preliminary Examination, 2011

the UPSC Preliminary Examination 2011 examination will consist of two papers. Paper I and II are each worth 200 marks and have been allotted two hours each.

Paper I - 200 marks, Duration Two Hrs – candidates will be tested on their knowledge of:

1.Current events of national and international importance-this is the area which requires the highest amount of concentration and carries high weightage of around 30 to 40 marks this can be expected to rise this year for prelim 2011..the best way to keep track with current events will be to follow any national newspaper preferably …the hindu,business line,the times of india or indian express…a complete reading of all the events along with editorials is required..making a note of important events or personalities,awards with specific focus on economic activity is required.

Any monthly magazine ..civil services chronicle and competition wizard are the most preferred magazine..pratyogita darpan is also a good book to follow…news panorama is a must read book for prelims the above books should take care of current affairs..

2. Indian history and Indian national movement-the recent trend in history shows that more concentration on modern history is required especially on idian national movement and events after the year 1500 there has been a considerable decrease In the number of questions to around 15 an the trend is expected to stay the same

3. Indian and world geography, including the physical, social and economic geography of India and the world-this area is another area where a lot of questions are asked in civils ..for geo and history ncert books are the most imp books to read..along with them tata mcgraw hill or spectrum is a good book to follow

d. Indian polity and governance – Constitution, the political system, panchayati raj, public policy and Rights Issue etc-this part is the most important in the context of both gaining insights into indian governance and also in the context of upsc exam..as a civil aspirant every one must be thorough with polity and laxmikanth for polity would be the best book to follow…

e. Economic and social development, sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social sector initiatives etc .-any business newspaper and pratyogiyata darpan special edition would be useful…ncert books alo need to be studied for conceptual clarity

f. General Issues on Environmental Ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change- that do not require subject specialization.

g. General Science-tata mcgraw hill and icse books of 8^th 9^th and 10^th would be enough.

Spend around 4 to 6 hours per day for about one year.this should be good enough to take care of prelims

Paper II –200 marks –Duration Two Hrs- will consist of:-

a. Comprehension

b. Interpersonal skills including communication skills

c. Logical reasoning and Analytical ability

d. Decision making and problem solving

e. General Mental Ability

f. Basic Numeracy (numbers and their relation, orders of magnitude etc (Class X level), Data Interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data sufficiency etc – Class X level)

g. English language comprehension skills

Its been a long time since i posted in the blog..but i shall be posting reguarly ..and responding to queries if any..i shall post the mains 2010 question papers of g.s,public ad and anthropology..the dynamics of mains upsc has changed completely and it requires new insights to answer the present trend of questions appearing in upsc...csat is acompletely new thing and it is not possible to predict on it until the notification comes out..

but whatever be the pattern or syllabus or question paper format only the person who reads the newspapers regularly has a far greater success rate

the hindu,times of india along with any business paper such as business line is most essential for success in civil services...

i had written mains in 2007,2009 and 2010 and i there had been considerable change in the pattern from 07 to 10 and the changes do not seem to be stopping for good..

opinion oriented questions have seemed to take centrestage and how to apply the knowledge one has is mmore important now....any ways all the very best to starters and also those who have been struggling for long....

cIVIL SERVICE EXAM 2009

GENERAL STUDIES - Paper II

Time Allowed: Three Hours Maximum Marks: 300

INSTRUCTIONSC

Each Question is printed both in Hindi and English Medium.Answer must be written in the medium specified in the Admission Certificate issued to you, which must be stated clearly on the cover of the answer book in the space provided for the purpose . No Marks will be given for the answers written in a medium other than that specific in the Admission Certificate.

Candidates should attempt all questions strictly in accordance with the instructions given under each question. The number of marks carried by each question is indicated at the end of the question.

1. Write notes on any three of the following (in about 150 words each) 3×15=45

1. India’s strategic interests in South Asia
2. China’s ‘peaceful rise’ doctrine
3. India Russia Defence Ties
4. India’s ‘soft’ and ‘Hard’ power strategy in foreign policy

2. Write brief notes on any four of the following in about 50 words each 4×5=20

1. Nuclear Supply Group ( NSG ) and India
2. Your view on the recent ‘ Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment
3. and Self Governance Order 2009’
4. Wakhan Corridor
5. Nuclear Submarine ‘ Arihant’
6. National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)

3. Comment on any two of the following in about 100 words 2×10=20

1. India – USA as strategic partners
2. Ethnic conflict in South Asia
3. ‘ NEPAD’ and its objectives

4. Write on any two of the following in about 50 words each. 2×5=10

1. Indo-Bhutan trade relations
2. Sino Myanmar relations
3. Geopolitics and Geostrategy

5. Comment critically on any one of the following statements in not more than 200 words: 20

1. “ Foreign investment is far from being critical to India’s economic growth”
2. “ The Lesson of current global financial crisis is that India should halt and may be even reverse financial liberalization”.

6. Answer any one of the following in about 200 words : 20

1. “ In the WTO negotiations over the years of the DOHA Rounds , India appears to be diluting its stand on agriculture issues to pursue perceived gains in services”. Critically examine this statements.
2. Discuss the Indo – US Knowledge initiative in Agriculture.

7. Answer any two of the following questions (in about 150 words each) 15×2=30

1. Evaluate the prospects for greater economic cooperation between India & China.
2. Does India need the World Bank?
3. Critically assesses the recent Free Trade Agreement entered into by India with ASEAN.

8. Answer any three of the following questions (in about 150 words each) 3 ×15=45

1. What do you understand by ‘Biosignatures’? Discuss briefly.
2. Write about Green Florescence Protein ( GFP ) and its application.
3. Define ‘ Bioinformatics’ . How does it work ? What is the major branches and applications ?
4. What is the ‘ Hubble Space Telescope’ ? How many Service Mission ( SMs) have been conducted for it ?

9. Explain any four of the following (100 words each) 4 ×10=40 a) DNA Finger Printing and its utility.

1. What is ‘Nanotech’. Give a brief account of its basic concepts, material used and applications.
2. What is ‘ Graphene’? Mention at least three of its applications.
3. Define ‘optical frequency comb’. Suggest at least three applications.
4. Why is Tele-medicine important for country like India?

10. Write brief notes on any five of the following (in about 30 words each): 5 ×13=15

1. Artificial Sun
2. ‘ Vegetable Gold’
3. PFCs and ‘ liquid breathing’
4. The ‘ P- 8 A Poseidon’
5. Biometric ATMs
6. Extra Vehicle Activity ( EVA)

11. a). The total areas of cultivation of high, medium and low sugar content, sugarcanes in four regions of a state are given below:

Sugar Content	Region
	North	South	East	West
High	100	100	200	50
Medium	300	300	400	250
Low	800	400	1000	700
Total	1200	800	1600	1000

Draw suitable diagram that facilitates the comparison of areas of cultivation of different sugar content varieties among the four regions : 6

b). The following table gives the production of soda ash ( in tons ) by three companies ( A , B and C ) over seven years period :

Company	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
A	20	25	28	31	34	36	41
B	15	18	23	35	40	46	50
C	45	43	40	37	30	26	20

Draw a suitable diagram so as to compare the performance of these companies: 6

c). The following date relate to the sales and net profit ( in Rupees Crores) of a company : 4

Years	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99
Sales	100	250	300	290	680
Net Profits	2.5	4.5	6	8.5	12

i. In which year the percentage of growth in sales, relative to the previous year is higher?

ii. In which year the percentage of growth in net profit, relative to the previous year, is higher?

iii. Let the probability be defined as the ratio of Net Profit to sales. In which Year the profitability is higher?

d). The Total sales ( in ‘000 rupees ) of a particular item in shop , on 10 consecutive days , is reported by a clerk as follows : 5

35.00	29.60	38.00	30.00	40.00
41.00	42.00	45.00	3.60	3.80

Later it was found that reports of the 4th and 8th days were 10.00 more than the true values and that in the last two days the clerk put a decimal wrongly one place to the left ( for example , 3.60 was really 36.0 ). Calculate the true mean value of sale

12.a). In a factory, 1500 women are working. Eight hundred of them come from rural areas and 450 of the married women are skill labourers. The number of skilled, rural and married labourers is 300. of the 400 unmarried and skilled women labourers , 250 are from urban areas. The number of married, semi skill women labouers from urban areas is 200. One hundred married rural women are semi skilled labourers. Tabulate the above information: 4

b). The mean score of a class in an examination is 70. If the mean score of boys is 60 and that of girls is 75, obtain the percentage of girls in the class: 4

c). In a city 20% people read newspaper A , 25% people read B and 10% read both A and B . What is the percentage of people who read at least one of the two newspapers? : 2

d). In order to study the effect of inoculation on TB, It was found that the number of inoculated and unaffected from TB is 28. and not inoculated and affected from TB is 13. If inoculation was performed over 40 persons out of 60 persons, complete the table and obtain the missing numbers: 2

e). The percentage of literates six villages of an area are noted as follows: 2

52, 46, 21, 30, 17, 24

Can compute the percentage of literates in the entire area from this information? If yes, compute the percentage. If no, state what additional information you would need for computation.

csat syllabus

UPSC Preliminary Examination 2011 examination will consist of two papers. Paper I and II are each worth 200 marks and have been allotted two hours each.

Paper I - 200 marks, Duration Two Hrs – candidates will be tested on their knowledge of:-

a. Current events of national and international importance

b. Indian history and Indian national movement

c. Indian and world geography, including the physical, social and economic geography of India and the world.

d. Indian polity and governance – Constitution, the political system, panchayati raj, public policy and Rights Issue etc

e. Economic and social development, sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social sector initiatives etc and

f. General Issues on Environmental Ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change- that do not require subject specialization

g. General Science

Paper II –200 marks –Duration Two Hrs- will consist of:-

a. Comprehension

b. Interpersonal skills including communication skills

c. Logical reasoning and Analytical ability

d. Decision making and problem solving

e. General Mental Ability

f. Basic Numeracy (numbers and their relation, orders of magnitude etc (Class X level), Data Interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data sufficiency etc – Class X level)

g. English language comprehension skills

important tags after the questions...

IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WE NOTICE EVERY QUESTION HAS A TAG ATTACHED TO IT LIKE ANALYSE,ELUCIDATE ETC...WELL I HAVE SOME INFO ON THAT WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ..HOW YOU USE IT IS UP TO YOU...

1.ELUCIDATE-WHEN THE EXAMINER ASKS TO ELUCIDATE HE IS ASKING TO EXPLAIN LUCIDLY(CLEARLY)THE MEANING OF THE QUESTION I.E EXPLAINING THE MEANING OF THE QUESTION SOLVES THE QUESTION IN 2001 WE HAVE A QUESTION "PUBLICNESS"OF PUB AD IN AN IDEAL DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT REMAINS THE ULTIMATE VALUE IN THEORY AND PRACTICE.ELUCIDATE ?
2.EXAMINE-IT IS MORE LIKE FINDING FAULTS OR CRITICISM..FINDING NEGATIVE ASPECTS

3.SUBSTANTIATE-PROVE THE GIVEN STATEMENT

4.COMMENT-PERSONAL OPINION(ACCEPT OR REJECT THE STATEMENT AND THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE DONE SO)

5.EN NUMERATE-GIVE POINT WISE 1.....
2......


6.ILLUSTRATE- WITH DIAGRAMS AND EXAMPLES...
THE ABOVE ARE THE MOST OFTEN ASKED JUST LOOK OUT FOR THE TAG ..ALL THE BEST

vamsi interview

the interview of vamsi which i have posted in my blog has been awarded 207 marks in final interview.....

Revised Anthropology(mains) syllabus

TOPICS ADDED
PAPER 1
Chapter 1
1. Linguistic Anthropology
2. The biological basis of life: The Cell, DNA structure and replication, Protein Synthesis,
Gene, Mutation, Chromosomes, and Cell Division.
3. Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating
methods.
Chapter 3
1. Globalization and indigenous economic systems
Chapter 7
1. Culture, language and communication: Nature, origin and characteristics of language;
verbal and nonverbal communication; social context of language use.
Chapter 9
1. Epidemiological Anthropology: Health and disease. Infectious and noninfectious
diseases. Nutritional deficiency related diseases
PAPER 2
Chapter 1
1.1 Palaeo – anthropological evidences from India with special reference to Siwaliks and
Narmada basin (Ramapithecus, Sivapithecus and Narmada Man).
1.2 Ethnoarchaeology in India: The concept of ethnoarchaeology; Survivals and Parallels
among the hunting, foraging, fishing, pastoral and peasant communities including arts
and crafts producing communities.
Chapter 5
1. Panchayati Raj and Social Change
2. Media and Social Change

TOPICS DELETED
PAPER 1
Chapter I
1. Principles of systematic and taxonomy
2. Major primate taxa
3. Tertiary and quaternary fossil primates
4. Systematics of Hominoidea and Hominidae,
5. Origin and evolution of man‐ Homo erectus and Homo sapiens
6. Prepleistocene fossil primates – Oeropithecus
Chapter III
1. Study of culture, patterns and processes.
2. Patterns of culture
3. Concept of Social Change and Culture Change
4. Social Structure and social organization
5. Role analysis and social network
Chapter IV
1. Myths and rituals; Definitions and approaches to their study – structural, functional and
processual
2. Relation with economic and political structures
Chapter V
1. Approaches of Dalton, Karl Polyani and Marx approach and New Economic Anthropology
2. Theoretical foundations of Political Anthropology
Chapter VI (Entire chapter is deleted)
1. Concepts of developmental Anthropological perspective. Models of development.
Critiques of classical developmental theories. Concepts of planning and planned
development. Concept of participatory development, Culture ecology and sustained
development. Displacement and rehabilitation.
Chapter VII
1. Concept of research in anthropology, subjectivity and reflexivity in terms of gender,
class, ideology and ethics
2. Nature and explanation in anthropological research
3. Positivistic and nonpositivistic approaches
4. Comparative methods: Nature, purpose and methods of comparison in social and
cultural anthropology
Chapter VIII
1. Concept, scope and major branches of human genetics. Its relationship with other
branches of science and medicine
2. Twin study methodzygosity, heritability estimates, present status of the twin study
method and its applications. (Only redundancy removed. Its part of methods for genetic
study of man)
3. Statistical and probability methods for study of human genetics
4. Ethnic groups of mankindcharacteristics and distribution in word, racial classification
of human groups. Principal living peoples of world. Their distribution and
characteristics.
5. Impact of smoking air pollutions, alcoholism, drugs and occupational hazards on health.
6. Ecological Anthropology – Social and Cultural Deterministic Theories – A Critique
Chapter X (Entire chapter is deleted)
1. Relevance in understanding of contemporary society. Dynamics of ethnicity at rural,
tribal urban and international levels. Ethnic conflicts and political developments.
Concept of ethnic boundaries. Ethnicity and concept of nation state.
Chapter XI
1. Reproductive biology, demography and population study
2. Reproductive physiology of male and female
3. Demographic methods – census, registration system, sample methods, dual reporting
system
4. Population structures and population dynamics
5. Demographic rates and ratios, life table – structure and utility
6. Methods of studying population growth
7. Biological consequences of population control and family welfare
Chapter XIII
1. Anthropogenetics in medicine
2. Application of statistical principles in human genetics and physical anthropology

best optionals in u.p.s.c

BEGINNING WITH FIRST OF ALL ALL THE VERY BEST FOR CHOOSING THIS STREAM OR FOR DECIDING TO BE A PART OF THE INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE ..A DREAM WHICH REQUIRES A LOT OF MENTAL STRENGTH,ABILITY,HARD WORK ,LADY LUCK AND DETERMINATION ALONG WITH SOME GOOD GUIDANCE...THE RACE IS REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE OF THE SHEER PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WANTING AND ACTUALLY WRITING THE EXAM..IMAGINE 1 LAKH ASPIRANTS WRITING THE EXAM FOR 500 POSTS AND IF YOU WANT TO BE AN IAS OR AN IPS IT HAS TO BE BELOW 200
EVERYONE OF US HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM BEFORE SELECTING AN OPTIONAL ..WE HEAR MANY RUMOURS THAT A PARTICULAR OPTIONAL IS VERY SCORING OR THAT MORE PEOPLE GOT SELECTED FROM ONE OPTIONAL ..OR SOMETHING ELSE.IF YOU THINK SO JUST LOOK BELOW AND DECIDE

Myth: Certain optionals have better prospects at the Preliminary.
Reality: The UPSC offers 23 optionals at the Preliminary. All optionals offer equal chances of success. Usually the “proportionate method of representation” is followed. This method may be explained as follows:
Total no. candidates appearing at the examination with various optionals = 1,00,000
Total no. of candidates to be selected for the Main Examination = 10,000
Candidates taking History = 20,000
Minimum representation to be secured of candidates who have opted for History = 2,000.
Thus every optional is weighted proportionally.

Myth: A large number of candidates are opting for optional ‘X’. Hence it is better to take optional ‘Y’, which is chosen by very few candidates.
Reality: As explained, the number of candidates to be selected from a certain optional is directly proportional to the number of candidates who opt for it. If a large number of students opt for a particular discipline then the number of students taking it selected for the mains will be equally large. If a small number opt for a particular subject, the number selected will be correspondingly less.

Myth: Every optional has a ‘cut-off’ mark. Hence it is better to choose one with a low cut-off.
Reality: What do we mean by cut-off? Only 10,000 qualify at the preliminary. The marks scored by the last candidate mark the ‘cut-off’ Thus all candidates who score more than the cut-off will qualify and all those who don’t will not. You should remember that this is a competitive examination. There is no qualifying score. Whatever the marks, the first 10,000 candidates will qualify. Thus the cut-off point changes from year to year. If the questions are difficult the ‘cut-off’ mark automatically comes down.

THIS CLEARLY SHOWS NOT TO BELIEVE IN RUMOURS IN UPSC .EVERYDAY 100 RUMOURS SURFACE ..DONT BOTHER ABOUT THEM..
EVERY OPTIONAL IS SCORING IT IS ONLY YOUR APTITUDE WHICH SHOULD DECIDE WHAT OPTIONAL YOU WANT TO WRITE WITH..MAKE AN SWOT ANALYSIS(YOUR STRENGHTS,WEAKNESSES,OPPORTUNITIES (THT IS THE COACHING AVAILABLE) AND THREATS )AND THEN DECIDE ON YOUR OPTIONAL..
THIS EXAM DETERMINES YOUR COMMITMENT AND CHARACTER..
FOCUS MORE ON CONCEPTUAL CLARITY
FOCUS ONLY ON THE SYLLABUS AND NOT ON ANYTHING ELSE..AND MOST OF ALL BE OPTIMISTIC ..I WAS VERY PESSIMISTIC ON THE DAY OF MY INTERVIEW AND I PAID THE PRICE FOR IT..HOPE YOU PEOPLE WONT REPEAT IT.. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE OPTED FOR THIS NO ONE PUSHED US INTO IT SO WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ....
PRAY TO GOD...

prepare for public administration

public ad. has become one of the most preferred optional recently and the success rate with this optional has also been high..but for a newcomer it is a lot of confusion wht books to refer and how to prepare so i would like to share wht i was told by a upsc topper on how to prepare let us first shortlist the number of books..
Indian Administration - Ramesh K. Arora & Rajni Goyal

Administrative Thinkers - R. Prasad and Prasad

New Horizons of Public Administration - Mohit Bhattacharya

Public Administration and Public Affairs - Nicholas Henry

and the most important of all is laxmikanth (tata mcgrawhill publication)..not matter wht paper upsc sets if u r good in laxmikanth (if u have read the book completely well and answered all the model papers behind any one can answer 75% of the questions .

there has been a drastic change in the pattern of the paper for the laast two years...many questions on current topics are appearing for whichone has to be good in current affairs ...and the one line i always remember wht he said was read between the lines (i.e to understand the topics and not simply byheart it try to apply it to general situations)
and the most important thing for pub ad students is take more tests (many model papers are there at the back of laxmikanth..along with last 15 years question papers .take simulated tests to see where you stand (lock yourself in a room and consider it to be the real exam and attempt any paper..see your score and the mistakes you have done and then you know wht to do next..)take 5 to 10 tests and you can find the difference in your scorin....the rest all you know what to do..so wishin you all the best for prelims whenever you write...of course there are many other books but i feel these are the most important ones aftre which you can go for other books

HOW TO PREPARE IN A SHORT TIME FOR ANTHROPOLOGY

THIS IS COMPLETELY MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE .I DO NOT GUARENTEE ABSOLUTE SUCCESS OR ENSURE ANYONE MY ONLY INTENTION OF WRITIN THIS IS THT NEWCOMERS WHO ARE WRITIN MAINS FOR THE FIRST TIME MIGHT BE BENEFITTED.

MANY OF US BEGIN PREPARTION RIGHT AFTER THE RESULTS WITH A VERY SHORT TIME LEFT.THIS IS THE FIRST BLUNDER WE MAKE BUT EVEN AT THIS POINT OF TIME WE CAN ACHIEVE GOOD RESULTS IF WE PREPARE I A CLEVER WAY

TODAY I WANT TO POST ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR ANTHROPOLOGY

            PAPER-1

PAPER 1 CONTAINS 13 CHAPTERS IN ALL

SECTION A -7 CHAPTERS AND SECTION B 6 CHAPTERS

REMEMBER THT U NEED NOT ATTAIN A DEGREE OR YOU R NOT GETTING ANY MEDAL FOR COMPLETIN THE SYLLABUS

ALL WE HAVE TO ANSWE R IS 3 ESSAYS AND 6 SHORT ANSWERS

I BELIEVE THT WITH GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYLLABUS SHORT ANSWERS CAN BE EASILY ANSWERED

NOW IT WOULD BE BETTER TO CHOOSE ANY ONE SECTION IN ANTHRO(I PREFERRED THE SECOND SECTION(BCOZ IT CONTAINS A CHAPTER LESS AND I FELT THT COMPARITIVELY I HAD TO STUDY LESS)

IN THE 6 CHAPTERS WE CAN AFFORD TO IGNORE ONE CHAPTER COMPLETELY(THIS IS COVERD IN CHOICE)

GO FOR AN EXHAUSTIVE PREPARATION OF ANY 3 CHAPTERS (I MEAN COMPLETE AND DETAILED SUCH THT U CAN WRITE EXCELLENT ESSAYS FROM THOSE CHAPTERS AND GOOD PREPARATION ON OTHER CHAPTERS SEE THIS TAKES LESS TIME AND WE HAVE 180 MARKS IN OUR HAND (DO NOT IGNORE THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTYER IN YOUR SECTION…. ALSO HAVE A LOOK AT LAST 5 YEARS PAPERS TO SEE WHICH R THE 3 MOST IMP CHAPTERS THIS TREND GENERALLY CONTINUES )

IF U WERE TO ASK ME PREPARE CHAPTER9(GENETICS,VERY SCORIN CHAPTER)/10(HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT) AND CHAPTER12 EXHAUSTIVELY GIVE A GOOD READING ON CHAPTER8(NEWLY ADDED)

 

SINCE YOU R ANSWERING TWO ESSAYS FROM THIS SECTION YOU NEED TO WRITE ONLY ONE ESSAY FROM IST SECTION TO BE SAFE AND IF U HAVE ENOUGH TIME PREPARE SECTION I SAME AS SECTION B AND YOU R SURE OF A GOOD SCORE

ANOTHER THING I WOULD REMIND IS LOOK AT LAST YEAR PAPERS (IDENTIFY THOSE PARTS OF THE SYLLABUS WHICH HAVENT APPEARED YET THERE IS MORE PROBABILITY FOR THESE QUESTIONS TO APPEAR

ALL THE BEST PLS POST YOUR COMMENTS AND ASK ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS IF ANY REQUIRED U SHALL POST FOR PAPER 2 LATER

Help you in preparation

It is extremely important for all aspirants to know exactly the rigour this exam needs. Many people start without understanding its true scope and drop out half through feeling demoralized. So please do visit IAS officers, coaching institutes, etc. to understand the demands this exam will make on you intellectually, on your personal life. This will make you mentally prepared for the arduous journey.

One does NOT have to study 12 hours a day for this exam. It is not about the number of hours you sit to study, but the discipline and concentration with which you study over a long stretch of time - about 1and ½ to 2 years - even if it is only 6-8 hours a day.

Confidence in one's ability to tackle this exam is very important.

 

Answer writing practice. There is absolutely nothing which is more important than this. Please don't feel shy or lazy about your answer-writing. In optional subjects, UPSC is not interested in how much knowledge you can put in your answers but how well you can use even limited knowledge to answer the question pointedly and accurately without beating about the bush. Please bear no illusions about this. However, GS is a bit more knowledge oriented, but within the word limit., for sociology answer writing practice will enable to finish all your papers well in time. Practicing previous years' questions is equally important for Prelims.

Learn all the points in all the subjects very well. Particularly in GS because there is no time in the exam hall to stop and think. It should just flow out of you. So, all the points must be on one's finger tips.

Read the syllabus very carefully and while preparing for anthropology and Pub Ad, make sure that every sub topic has been studied well.

From this year onwards selective studying has been made dangerous because various sections are being mixed up. So I suggest that one should not gamble and should prepare each and every topic and sub topic well.

Be disciplined about study hours. I sincerely believe that civil services exam is fundamentally about discipline and mental strength to doggedly trod one path for about 2 years.

Stay positive. Negative thoughts, actions and energy will sap all one's strength. It is imperative to stay positive at all times.

Finally, understand that this exam is not a Do or Die situation. One must have remarkable drive and motivation, but one must never put oneself under the pressure that they have to clear the exam and that there is no other way. It is important to realize that luck is an important factor.

Anthropology syllabus

Anthropology

PAPER - I

1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology.

1.2 Relationships with other disciplines: Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Humanities.

1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance:

(a) Social- cultural Anthropology.

(b) Biological Anthropology.

(c) Archaeological Anthropology.

(d) Linguistic Anthropology.

1.4 Human Evolution and emergence of Man:

(a) Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution.

(b) Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian ).

(c) Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll's rule, Cope's rule, Gause's rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution).

1.5 Characteristics of Primates; Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy; Primate Adaptations; (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; Primate Behaviour; Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; Living Major Primates; Comparative Anatomy of Man and Apes; Skeletal changes due to erect posture and its implications.

1.6 Phylogenetic status, characteristics and geographical distribution of the following:

(a) Plio-pleistocene hominids in South and East Africa - Australopithecines.

(b) Homo erectus: Africa ( Paranthropus ), Europe ( Homo erectus heidelbergensis ), Asia ( Homo erectus javanicus , Homo erectus pekinensis ).

(c) Neanderthal Man- La-Chapelle-aux-saints (Classical type), Mt. Carmel (Progressive type).

(d) Rhodesian man.

(e) Homo sapiens -- Cromagnon, Grimaldi and Chancelede.

1.7  The biological basis of life: The Cell, DNA structure and replication, Protein Synthesis, Gene, Mutation, Chromosomes, and Cell Division.

1.8 (a)  Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods.

(b) Cultural Evolution- Broad Outlines of Prehistoric cultures:

(i)  Paleolithic

(ii)  Mesolithic

(iii)  Neolithic

(iv)  Chalcolithic

(v)  Copper-Bronze Age

(vi)  Iron Age

2.1 The Nature of Culture: The concept and characteristics of culture and civilization; Ethnocentrism vis-à-vis cultural Relativism.

2.2 The Nature of Society: Concept of Society; Society and Culture; Social Institutions; Social groups; and Social stratification.

2.3  Marriage: Definition and universality; Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage). Functions of marriage; Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive); Marriage payments (bride wealth and dowry).

2.4  Family: Definition and universality; Family, household and domestic groups; functions of family; Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); Impact of urbanization, industrialization and feminist movements on family.

2.5  Kinship: Consanguinity and Affinity; Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral, Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (lineage, clan, phratry, moiety and kindred); Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory); Descent, Filiation and Complimentary Filiation; Descent and Alliance.

3.  Economic organization: Meaning, scope and relevance of economic anthropology; Formalist and Substantivist debate; Principles governing production, distribution and exchange (reciprocity, redistribution and market), in communities, subsisting on hunting and gathering, fishing, swiddening, pastoralism, horticulture, and agriculture; globalization and indigenous economic systems.

4. Political organization and Social Control: Band, tribe, chiefdom, kingdom and state; concepts of power, authority and legitimacy; social control, law and justice in simple societies.

5.  Religion: Anthropological approaches to the study of religion (evolutionary, psychological and functional); monotheism and polytheism; sacred and profane; myths and rituals; forms of religion in tribal and peasant societies (animism, animatism, fetishism, naturism and totemism); religion, magic and science distinguished; magico- religious functionaries (priest, shaman, medicine man, sorcerer and witch).

6. Anthropological theories:

(a) Classical evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan and Frazer)

(b) Historical particularism (Boas); Diffusionism (British, German and American)

(c) Functionalism (Malinowski); Structural- functionlism (Radcliffe-Brown)

(d) Structuralism (L'evi - Strauss and E. Leach)

(e) Culture and personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner and Cora - du Bois).

(f) Neo - evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins and Service)

(g) Cultural materialism (Harris)

(h) Symbolic and interpretive theories (Turner, Schneider and Geertz)

(i) Cognitive theories (Tyler, Conklin)

(j) Post- modernism in anthropology

7.  Culture, language and communication: Nature, origin and characteristics of language; verbal and non-verbal communication; social context of language use.

8. Research methods in anthropology:

(a) Fieldwork tradition in anthropology

(b) Distinction between technique, method and methodology

(c) Tools of data collection: observation, interview, schedules, questionnaire, Case study, genealogy, life-history, oral history, secondary sources of information, participatory methods.

(d)  Analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.

9.1  Human Genetics – Methods and Application: Methods for study of genetic principles in man-family study (pedigree analysis, twin study, foster child, co-twin method, cytogenetic method, chromosomal and karyo-type analysis), biochemical methods, immunological methods, D.N.A. technology and recombinant technologies.

9.2 Mendelian genetics in man-family study, single factor, multifactor, lethal, sub-lethal and polygenic inheritance in man.

9.3  Concept of genetic polymorphism and selection, Mendelian population, Hardy-Weinberg law; causes and changes which bring down frequency – mutation, isolation, migration, selection, inbreeding and genetic drift. Consanguineous and non-consanguineous mating, genetic load, genetic effect of consanguineous and cousin marriages.

9.4  Chromosomes and chromosomal aberrations in man, methodology.

(a) Numerical and structural aberrations (disorders).

(b) Sex chromosomal aberrations – Klinefelter (XXY), Turner (XO), Super female (XXX), intersex and other syndromic disorders.

(c) Autosomal aberrations – Down syndrome, Patau, Edward and Cri-du-chat syndromes.

(d) Genetic imprints in human disease, genetic screening, genetic counseling, human DNA profiling, gene mapping and genome study.

9.5 Race and racism, biological basis of morphological variation of non-metric and metric characters. Racial criteria, racial traits in relation to heredity and environment; biological basis of racial classification, racial differentiation and race crossing in man.

9.6  Age, sex and population variation as genetic marker- ABO, Rh blood groups, HLA Hp, transferring, Gm, blood enzymes. Physiological characteristics-Hb level, body fat, pulse rate, respiratory functions and sensory perceptions in different cultural and socio-economic groups.

9.7 Concepts and methods of Ecological Anthropology. Bio-cultural Adaptations – Genetic and Non- genetic factors. Man's physiological responses to environmental stresses: hot desert, cold, high altitude climate.

9.8 Epidemiological Anthropology: Health and disease. Infectious and non-infectious diseases. Nutritional deficiency related diseases.

10. Concept of human growth and development: stages of growth - pre-natal, natal, infant, childhood, adolescence, maturity, senescence.

- Factors affecting growth and development genetic, environmental, biochemical, nutritional, cultural and socio-economic.

- Ageing and senescence. Theories and observations - biological and chronological longevity. Human physique and somatotypes. Methodologies for growth studies.

11.1  Relevance of menarche, menopause and other bioevents to fertility. Fertility patterns and differentials.

11.2 Demographic theories- biological, social and cultural.

11.3 Biological and socio-ecological factors influencing fecundity, fertility, natality and mortality.

12.  Applications of Anthropology: Anthropology of sports, Nutritional anthropology, Anthropology in designing of defence and other equipments, Forensic Anthropology, Methods and principles of personal identification and reconstruction, Applied human genetics – Paternity diagnosis, genetic counseling and eugenics, DNA technology in diseases and medicine, serogenetics and cytogenetics in reproductive biology.

 

 

 

    Anthropology
-

PAPER – II

1.1 Evolution of the Indian Culture and Civilization -- Prehistoric (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Neolithic - Chalcolithic). Protohistoric (Indus Civilization): Pre- Harappan, Harappan and post- Harappan cultures. Contributions of tribal cultures to Indian civilization.

1.2  Palaeo – anthropological evidences from India with special reference to Siwaliks and Narmada basin ( Ramapithecus , Sivapithecus and Narmada Man ).

1.3  Ethno-archaeology in India: The concept of ethno-archaeology; Survivals and Parallels among the hunting, foraging, fishing, pastoral and peasant communities including arts and crafts producing communities.

2. Demographic profile of India -- Ethnic and linguistic elements in the Indian population and their distribution. Indian population - factors influencing its structure and growth.

3.1  The structure and nature of traditional Indian social system -- Varnashram, Purushartha, Karma, Rina and Rebirth.

3.2 Caste system in India- structure and characteristics, Varna and caste, Theories of origin of caste system, Dominant caste, Caste mobility, Future of caste system, Jajmani system, Tribe- caste continuum.

3.3  Sacred Complex and Nature- Man- Spirit Complex.

3.4  Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society.

4. Emergence and growth of anthropology in India-Contributions of the 18 th , 19 th and early 20 th Century scholar-administrators. Contributions of Indian anthropologists to tribal and caste studies.

5.1  Indian Village: Significance of village study in India; Indian village as a social system; Traditional and changing patterns of settlement and inter-caste relations; Agrarian relations in Indian villages; Impact of globalization on Indian villages.

5.2  Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status.

5.3  Indigenous and exogenous processes of socio-cultural change in Indian society: Sanskritization, Westernization, Modernization; Inter-play of little and great traditions; Panchayati raj and social change; Media and social change.

6.1 Tribal situation in India – Bio-genetic variability, linguistic and socio-economic characteristics of tribal populations and their distribution.

6.2 Problems of the tribal Communities -- land alienation, poverty, indebtedness, low literacy, poor educational facilities, unemployment, underemployment, health and nutrition.

6.3 Developmental projects and their impact on tribal displacement and problems of rehabilitation. Development of forest policy and tribals. Impact of urbanization and industrialization on tribal populations.

7.1 Problems of exploitation and deprivation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

7.2 Social change and contemporary tribal societies: Impact of modern democratic institutions, development programmes and welfare measures on tribals and weaker sections.

7.3 The concept of ethnicity; Ethnic conflicts and political developments; Unrest among tribal communities; Regionalism and demand for autonomy; Pseudo-tribalism; Social change among the tribes during colonial and post-Independent India.

8.1  Impact of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religions on tribal societies.

8.2  Tribe and nation state -- a comparative study of tribal communities in India and other countries.

9.1 History of administration of tribal areas, tribal policies, plans, programmes of tribal development and their implementation. The concept of PTGs (Primitive Tribal Groups), their distribution, special programmes for their development. Role of N.G.O.s in tribal development.

9.2 Role of anthropology in tribal and rural development.

9.3  Contributions of anthropology to the understanding of regionalism, communalism, and ethnic and political movements.

 

My advice would be to read the material of any coaching centre (I read brain tree and rcreddy material)

 

        Anthropology

Paper I
(Part I) (Upto Topic 7)
1. Beattie : Other Cultures
2. Beals & Hoijer/ : An Introduction to Anthropology
3. Haviland : An Introduction to Anthropology
4. Vaid : Economy and Social Relations
5. U.S. Mishra : An Introduction to Social-Cultural Anthropology (in Hindi)
6. Mishra & Hasnain : Unifying Anthropology
7. Honigman : he World of Man
8. Herskovits : Cultural Anthropology
9. Majumdar & Madan : An Introduction to Social Anthropology
10.Sagar Preet : Basic Concepts in Sociology and Anthropology
11. Abhik Ghosh : Meetings with the Other (on Fieldwork Techniques)
12. Gaya and Pandey : Cultural Anthropology

Paper I
(Part II)
1. Harrison et. al : Human Biology
2. Shukla & Rastogi : Physical Anthropology & Human Genetics
3. Stein & Rowe : An Introduction to Physical Anthropology.
4. Vaid & Pandey : Jaivik Manavshastra (in Hindi)
5. B. Janusch : Origins of Man
6. Virender Kumar : Evolution of Genus Homo
7. Surender Nath : Forensic Anthropology
8. Surender Nath : Nutritional Anthropology
9. M. Harris : Rise of Anthropological Theory
10. U.S. Misra : Anthropological Thought (in Hindi)
11. Herskovits : Cultural Anthropology
12. Booklet published by Jawahar Publishers

Paper II
1. NCERT : Indian Society, Social Change
2. Bhattacharya, D.K. : An Outline of Indian Prehistory
3. Srinivas : Caste in India & Other Essays
4. Srinivas : Social Change in Modern India
5. Y. Singh : Modernisation of Indian Tradition
6. Vidyarthi & Rai : Tribal Cultures of India
7. N. Hasnain : Indian Anthropology
8. N. Hasnain : Tribal India
9. R.C. Verma : Indian Tribes
10. Vaid : Who Cares for Tribal Development (Hindi & English)
11. A.L. Basham : The Wonder that was India
12. G.S. Bhatt : Bharatiya Samajik Vichar (in Hindi)
13. Sagar Preet : Reservation for Backward Classes a Perspective

Topic Wise Reference
Paper I (Part I) (Upto Topic 7)
1. Beattie : Other Cultures
2. Beals & Hoijer/ : An Introduction to Anthropology
3. Haviland : An Introduction to Anthropology
4. Vaid : Economy and Social Relations
5. U.S. Mishra : An Introduction to Social-Cultural Anthropology (in Hindi)
6. Mishra & Hasnain : Unifying Anthropology
7. Honigman : he World of Man
8. Herskovits : Cultural Anthropology
9. Majumdar & Madan : An Introduction to Social Anthropologyv 10.Sagar Preet : Basic Concepts in Sociology and Anthropology
11. Abhik Ghosh : Meetings with the Other (on Fieldwork Techniques)

Paper I (Part II)
1. Harrison et. al : Human Biology
2. Shukla & Rastogi : Physical Anthropology & Human Genetics
3. Stein & Rowe : An Introduction to Physical Anthropology.
4. Vaid & Pandey : Jaivik Manavshastra (in Hindi)
5. B. Janusch : Origins of Man
6. Virender Kumar : Evolution of Genus Homo
7. Surender Nath : Forensic Anthropology
8. Surender Nath : Nutritional Anthropology
9. M. Harris : Rise of Anthropological Theory
10. U.S. Misra : Anthropological Thought (in Hindi)
11. Herskovits : Cultural Anthropology
12. Booklet published by Jawahar Publishers

Paper II
1. NCERT : Indian Society, Social Change
2. Bhattacharya, D.K. : An Outline of Indian Prehistory
3. Srinivas : Caste in India & Other Essays
4. Srinivas : Social Change in Modern India
5. Y. Singh : Modernisation of Indian Tradition
6. Vidyarthi & Rai : Tribal Cultures of India
7. N. Hasnain : Indian Anthropology
8. N. Hasnain : Tribal India
9. R.C. Verma : Indian Tribes
10. Vaid : Who Cares for Tribal Development (Hindi & English)
11. A.L. Basham : The Wonder that was India
12. G.S. Bhatt : Bharatiya Samajik Vichar (in Hindi)
13. Sagar Preet : Reservation for Backward Classes a Perspective