TARGET IAS EXAM

- Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration -Commerce & Accountancy and Management -Anthropology and Sociology -Mathematics and Statistics -Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science -Management and Public Administration -Any two branches of engineering -Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science -Combination of two literatures

Choosing the right optional subjects in the Civil Services Main exam will determine your success. Most often, candidates choose their main area of study as the first optional paper. And since a major part of the syllabus is taken care of while preparing for the Prelims, it’s time to deal with the second optional paper which will consume most of your preparation time. So how do you decide your second optional paper? Here are a few parameters that will help you decide. First, you must be interested in the discipline. Evaluate your aptitude to learn the subject; the choice should not merely see you graze through to the next level. Don’t let the length of the syllabus influence your decision. History and geography are known for their notoriously lengthy content whereas public administration and anthropology have the least topics to learn. The secret does not lie in selecting subjects which are short or lengthy but on how comfortable you are in grasping them. Here’s a litmus test. Pick up a

Systematic study is the next step to success. The phrase “systematic study” may mean different things to different students. But in the broad sense, it contains the following; a . Prudent selection of the areas to be studiedb. b .Determining their relative importancec. c .Assessing your comfort level with each topic/sub-topic (not the subject) d. Determining your priorities and identifying the topics which need more concentration. e. Strategies to study the selected areas thoroughly f. Charting out the time schedule for study, taking into consideration, the availability of time. g. Meticulous implementation of the above time schedule. h . Keeping the goal in perspective. i. Never say die spirit. Many students often ask how/where to begin the studies. The answer lies in the above points. My advice is; begin the preparation from the subject or chapter where you feel more interesting. But by doing so, you risk the chance of sticking on to a single subject most of the time. To avoid t

1. Selecting an optional is the most important step in CSE. But the prevailing trend is that one opts the subjects in which the largest number of students get through. I would like to mention that the most important factor is not the “numbers”, but the percentage. 1.1 The syllabus prescribed by the UPSC in all subjects is a little tougher than the degree level, but a little lighter than PG level. The reason is that the standard of Delhi University or Calcutta University is taken as the benchmark by the UPSC. In most of the universities, obtaining a Degree is easier than passing CBSE XIIth standard. The reason is lighter syllabus and liberal evaluation. As a result, a candidate who goes through the UPSC syllabus may think it very tough. The interesting aspect is that this toughness is felt in one’s own subject only. For example, a botany student may feel the botany syllabus in CSE is very tough. But when going through the syllabus of any other subject, he may feel it “easier”. The rea

UPSC Civil Services Exams Reform: The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had last month approved the revamp of the preliminary exam on lines suggested by the Union Public Service Commission. The UPSC is further expected to push for changes in the Civil Service (Mains) Examination. But this will be only after examining the response to changes in the preliminary exam. The UPSC had told the government two years ago there was a need to test not just the knowledge of aspirants in particular subjects but their aptitude for “a demanding life in the civil services”. It had also recommended bringing down the number of attempts a candidate could take. But Dr. Singh has kept this aspect on hold. Now the government has decided to replace the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination with the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT), which will test candidates on their aptitude and analytical abilities rather than their ability to memorise. “The CSAT is expected to come into effect from 2011,” Minister of Stat

TIME FOR CHANGE:The proposed pattern will comprise questions which would test the problem solving, analytical, logical reasoning and decision-making skills of the aspirants. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt Civil Services Aptitude Test is being mooted at the preliminary level from 2011 and the UPSC is expected to push for changes in the Main examination too. Those aspiring to be civil servants must have not only the required skills and knowledge, but also the right values which would include integrity, commitment to public service and above all, commitment to the ideals and philosophy embodied in the Constitution. So a number of committees and commissions were setup to make recommendations on various aspects of recruitment. The first committee was the Macaulay committee of 1854. This committee established the principle of ‘transferability of academic talent to administration.' The Macaulay system continued till three decades after Independence. In 1976, the Kothari committee recommended a seque

Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Civil Services Examination Academy for minority students & women has announced phase II coaching programme for Mains & Prelims. The programme is scheduled to start in August 2010. The notifications & applications will be available from June 15, 2010. According to Prof. Amina Kishore, Professor In charge, the Academy has successfully completed phase I of coaching for students who appeared in the recently conducted Preliminary Exams. MANUU is one among the four Universities selected by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development all over the India to start CSE – Coaching Academy. MANUU Academy has been assigned the responsibility to impart coaching to minorities & women. Interested candidates may enquire at 040 – 23008323, 23008326, 23008304, or contact by email at : manuu.ias.acad@gmail.com . Link: http://www.manuu.ac.in/

Jamia Millia Islamia Centre for Coaching and Career Planning Invites applications for FREE COACHING for CIVIL SERVICES (MAINS 2010) For Minorities, OBCs, SCs, and STs 1. Only those candidates who have already written the Civil Services Preliminary Examination, 2010, may apply. 2. Coaching will include (a) classes on selected topics of General Studies and selected optional papers—History, Public Administration, Political Science, Geography, Economics, Urdu, Persian and Arabic (b) Test series and evaluation shall be carried out by faculty members (c) Essay writing practice shall form part of the curriculum . Apply by: June 04, 2010 (5:00. p.m.) Entrance Test: June 11, 2010 (10:00. a.m.) Display of List of Selected Candidates: June 21, 2010 (5:00. p.m.) Admission to be completed by: June 25, 2010 (5:00. p.m.) Classes to be held: June 29-September 28, 2010 3. Application form may be obtained from the office of the Centre at Old SRK Hostel Building, JMI, or downloaded from Jamia Website (ww

Candidates must remember that the interview board looks for competent candidates, and so one must remain confident and truly believe that one's chances are bright. Perseverance matters: Civil Service aspirants at a coaching centre in Chennai. A natural question that emerges is, “What would be the nature of the interview questions?” Well, it is anybody's guess. The questions would depend on the first impression created by you in the mind of the interview board, your background, and the mood of the members. Indeed, there are areas in which you could focus during the preparation. Some of the possibilities are indicated below: Meaning of your name. Questions on your village/ town/ city/ State/ college Detailed questions on your hobby Why did you choose mathematics / history / electrical engineering / .. as your subject of specialisation? After your degree in engineering, you are opting for the civil services. Why? Does it not amount to wasting your hard work in technical studies? (