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IAS
IAS Foundation Manual
3
IAS Foundation Manual provides you with
essential knowledge and skills which will lay a
strong foundation for your pursuit in Civil
Services Examination and once you finish your
degree you will be ready for the final round of
intensive preparation for the IAS exam.
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IAS Foundation Manual
5
Come, YOU too CAN become an IAS Officer!!!
“Mother of all Exams in India”, “The Toughest exam in India”, these are some of
the epitomes of the Civil Services Exam that scares many aspirants. Are you one
such guy, who is scary of this exam? The fact is that, many aspirants who even
after successfully cleared the exam also believe that “it was a very tough task”.
Their justification for this belief is that, every year 3 to 5 lakh candidates apply for
the Civil Services Exam, and UPSC selects less than 1000 candidates for the
prestigious IAS, IFS, IPS, Group-A and Group-B services. That means the
competition is VERY TOUGH, isn’t it? You can answer “YES” or “NO” to this
question. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT “IAS EXAM IS ONE OF
THE EASIEST EXAMS IN INDIA!!!” Once you finish reading this article you
too will agree with me and say that “IAS EXAM IS ONE OF THE EASIEST
EXAMS IN INDIA!!!”
You know that, every year 3to 5 lakh aspirants apply for the preliminary Exam.
But do you know that majority of the candidates are not serious? So, don’t go by
the number of students applied or appeared for the exam. Most of them are not
serious.
If you just appear for the exam, your chances of winning are 1/500…. But when
you prepare seriously according to a good strategy plan, provided in this book,
your chances will become 1/3. Yes, your chance of winning enhances
tremendously. But you need to assure me that, you will study smart (not hard)
according to the Strategy Plan provided in this book.
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IAS Foundation Manual
Civil Services in India-at a Glance
The Civil Services of India (known simply as the Civil Services) refer to the civil
service and the permanent bureaucracy of the Government of India. The civil
service system is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country.
In the parliamentary democracy of India, the ultimate responsibility for running
the administration rests with the elected representatives of the people which are
the ministers. The ministers are accountable to the legislature, elected by the people
on the basis of universal adult franchise. The ministers are thus indirectly
responsible to the people. But the handful of ministers cannot be expected to
deal personally with the manifold problems of modern administration. Thus the
ministers lay down the policy and it is for the civil servants to carry out this policy.
The executive decisions are implemented by the Indian civil servants. A civil
servant is any person who is a citizen of India appointed by the Government to
any civil service or post in connection with the affairs of the Union and includes
a civilian in a Defence Service. The members of civil service serve at the pleasure
of the President of India and Article 311 of the constitution protects them from
politically motivated or vindictive action. Civil servants are employees of
the Government of India; however, not all employees of the Government are
civil servants. History
Prior to Independence, the Indian Civil Service (ICS) was the senior most amongst
the Services of the Crown in India. Besides the ICS, there was also the Indian
Police Service. After Independence, it was felt that though the ICS was a legacy of
the imperial period, there was need for the All India Services for maintaining the
unity, integrity and stability of the nation. Accordingly, a provision was made in
Article 312 of the Constitution for creation of one or more All India Services
common to the Union and State. The Indian Administrative Service and The
Indian Police Service are deemed to be constituted by the Parliament in terms of
Article 312 of the Constitution. After the promulgation of the Constitution, a
new All India Service, namely, The Indian Forest Service, was created in 1966. A
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IAS Foundation Manual
Question Trend Analysis
Paper-I
200 marks
Duration: Two hours
100 questions.
The trend analysis given below of the last 8 Years’ Civil Services Question Paper will
give you an idea about the number of questions asked from different areas of the General
Studies in the Preliminary Test.
(1). Since 2011 exams there has been only 100 questions in total
(2). From the 2011 exam GMA has been taken out from Paper-1 and presently part of
Paper-2
(3). Environmental studies has been introduced as a separate topic from 2011 exam,
and given very prominence in the number of questions asked. In the 2014 exam held on
24 August 2014, 32% of the questions were from this category. Till 2010 exam it was
part of either Geography or Biology
(4) From 2010 exam most of the questions in all sections have a current link, and that’s
why exclusive CA questions were less. If we apply the same criteria that applied for the
QPs of 2002 to 2009, number of questions coming under the Current Affairs section
would have been more than 50!
Subject
1. Geography
2. History & Culture
3. Economy
4. Polity
5. Science & Tech
6. GMA
7. Current Affairs
8. GK
9.Environment
2007
33
13
08
11
32
17
39
09
—
2008
38
12
15
10
22
11
35
17
-
2009
24
24
18
12
18
14
21
11
-
2010
31
14
33
07
29
23
09
04
-
2011
16
11
21
08
5
00
08
04
17
2012
17
19
17
20
9
00
1
0
17
2013
18
16
19
16
14
00
17
2014
15
20
13
11
5
00
4
0
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IAS Foundation Manual
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
ASKED IN THE PRELIMS PAPER-1
(See the UPSC Prelims Question Papers given in this book)
It is very important to understand the different types of questions asked in the Civil
Services Exam. The recent trend is to incorporate several complex formats which require
the candidate to understand clearly what is wanted before choosing the answer. Given
below are the different Types of questions asked in the Civil Services Preliminary Exam.
Type-I: Single Selection Type
This is a very simple and straight question pattern. In this type only one option out of the
four given option is correct.
Example: A meteor is
(a) a rapidly moving star
(b) a piece of matter which has entered the earth’s atmosphere from outer space
(c) part of a constellation
(d) a comet without tail
Ans. (b)
Type-II Multiple Selection Type
In this type of question a set of statements will be given of which one or more will be
correct/the answer to the question. You need to identify the correct option. See the
example given below:
Example-1: Consider the following statements regarding asteroids:
1. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying sizes orbiting the Sun.
2. Most of the asteroids are small but some halt diameter as large as 1000 km.
3. The orbit of asteroids lies between orbits of Jupiter and Saturn.
Of these statements
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(b) 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 1 and 2 are correct
(d) 1 and 3 correct
Ans. (c)
Example-2. Consider the following geological phenomena:
1. Development of a fault
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IAS Foundation Manual
UPSC CSE + IFoS
Prelim 2014 GS Paper 1
(Held on 24th Aug)
4.With reference to Neem tree,
consider the following statements:
1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide
to control the proliferation of some
species of insects and mites.
2. Neem seeds are used in the
manufacture of biofuels and hospital
detergents.
3. Neem oil has applications in
pharmaceutical industry.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a)1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. If the interest rate is decreased in
an economy, it will
(a)Decrease the consumption
expenditure in the economy
(b) Increase the tax collection of the
Government
(c)Increase
the
investment
expenditure in the economy
(d) Increase the total savings in the
economy
5. Which one of the following is the
process involved in photosynthesis?
2. Consider the following statements: (a) Potential energy is released to
1. The President shall make rules for form free energy
the more convenient transaction of the (b) Free energy is converted into
business of the Government of India, potential energy and stored
and for the allocation among Ministers (c ) Food is oxidized to release carbon
of the said business.
dioxide and water
2.All executive actions of the (d)Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide
Government of India shall be and water vapour are given out
expressed to be taken in the name of
the Prime Minister.
6. In addition to fingerprint scanning,
Which of the statements given above which of the following can be used in
is/are correct?
the biometric identification of a
(a)1 only
(b) 2 only
person?
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. Iris scanning
3.Consider the following statements
regarding a No-Confidence Motion in
the Constitution of India.
1. There is no mention of a NoConfidence of India.
2.A Motion of NO-Confidence can be
introduced in the Lok Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Retinal scanning
3. Voice recognition
Select the correct answer using the
code given below:
(a)1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
7. Which of the following statements
is/are correct regarding vegetative
propagation of plants?
1. Vegetative propagation produces
clonal population.
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IAS Foundation Manual
100 Modules to make
Your Foundation Strong
STUDY PLAN
The Study Plan given in the following pages is based on the above syllabus prescribed
by the UPSC for the Prelims and the Mains. At the same time some topics which are not
in the syllabus are also given in this Study Plan. For example “Maps”. Direct question
may not be there from this topic but understanding of this topic is essential for better
understanding of almost all areas that Geography covers as a subject of study.
STUDY MATERIAL
Since the UPSC Examiners depend a lot on NCERT Books while compiling the question
papers, we have tried here to depend on the NCERT Books at the maximum possible
extend. In fact NCERT books are the best in terms of authenticity, better presentation
and readability too. However a very important point to note is that, some of the data
given in the NCERT Books are to be updated. For example, the Indian population data
given in the books are of 2001 census. Here what you need to do is, while studying such
data, do collect the latest population data (in this case it is the 2011 census data) and
update the information accordingly. Just like that in the Chapter-1 of the NCERT Class6 .Social Studies. The Earth Our Habitat, Pluto is given as a planet. But the fact is that
Pluto is no longer considered a planet. You need not worry about it, because only very
little issues are like this, and even if you study some topics which are not updated,
updation will happen in the due course of time, as part of your study. So the rule is that,
when you think that a particular date is to be updated, update it instantly by referring any
websites concerned.
NOTE: Each module contains topics which are to be studied together. There is no time
limit for the modules. Some Modules require 1 hour to finish, some require 10 hours to
finish...likewise. You may take your own time for any module. However it is advisable
to take the minimum time possible for each module...that is considered efficient time
management.
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MODULE - 020
MODULE - 019
MODULE - 018
MODULE - 017
IAS Foundation Manual
Subject: Geography
Topic: India —Drainage
Material: NCERT Class -XI. Geography. India physical environment
Chapter-3+ NCERT Class -IX. Social Science. Contemporary IndiaChapter- 3
417
My Schedule
for this Module
Date
Time
Remark on Progress of your Study:
Subject: Geography
Topic: India —Climate
Material: NCERT Class -XI. Geography. India physical environment Chapter4+ NCERT Class -IX. Social Science. Contemporary IndiaChapter- 4
My Schedule
for this Module
Date
Time
Remark on My Progress of Study:
Subject: Geography
Topic: India-States Information
My Schedule
for this Module
Date
Time
Material: India 2014 Publisher: Publication Division-New Delhi. Or softcopy
of the same available at : http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php
Remark on My Progress of Study:
Subject: Geography
Topic: India —Soils
Material: NCERT Class -XI. Geography. India physical environment
Chapter-6
My Schedule
for this Module
Date
Time
Remark on My Progress of Study:
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