The Main examination comprises of nine papers, all of them of a descriptive type conducted within a

span of 20 days.
It is designed to test not only the academic talent of the aspirant but also his ability to coordinate and
present his knowledge in a clear and cogent manner. About 12,000 peoples were qualified for the Main
Examination in 2009.

Civil Services Main Examination Timetable 2009

Part B - Main Examination - Optional Subjects

Paper-I

One of the Indian Languages to be selected

by the candidate from the 22 languages 300 Marks
included in the VIIIth Schedule to the
Constitution (Qualifying Paper)

Paper-II

English (Qualifying Paper)

300 Marks

Paper-III

Essay [in the medium you choose]

200 Marks

General Studies (300 Marks for each paper)

600 Marks

Papers
&V

IV

Papers VI, Any two subjects (each having 2 papers) to be

VII, VIII & selected from the prescribed optional subjects 1200 Marks
IX
(300 marks for each paper)
Total Marks for Written Examination 2000 Marks

Interview Test [in the medium you choose] 300 Marks

Grand Total 2300 Marks

Updated General Studies Mains syllabus for 2008

General Guidelines:The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers will be such
that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions
will be such as to test a candidates general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have
relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidates basic
understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socioeconomic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct
answers.

Paper-I
(1) History of Modern India and Indian Culture

The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth
century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the freedom
movement and social reforms. The part relating to Indian culture will cover all aspects of Indian culture
from the ancient to modern times as well as principal features of literature, arts and architecture.
(2) Geogrphy of India
In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and social geography of India.
(3) Constitution of India and Indian Polity
This part will include questions on the Constitution of India as well as all constitutional, legal,
administrative and other issues emerging from the politico-administrative system prevalent in the
country.
(4) Current National issues and topics of social relevance
This part is intended to test the candidate's awareness of current national issues and topics of social
relevance in present-day India, such as the following:
(i) The Indian economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development
and employment.
(ii) Issues arising from the social and economic exclusion of large sections from the benefits of
development.
(iii) Other issues relating to the development and management of human resource.
(iv) Health issues including the management of Public Health, Health education and ethical concerns
regarding health-care, medical research and pharmaceuticals.
(v) Law enforcement, internal security and related issues such as the preservation of communal
harmony.
(vi) Issues relating to good governance and accountability to the citizens including the maintenance of
human rights, and of probity in public life.
(vii) Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national
heritage.

Paper-II
(1) India and the World
This part will include questions to test candidate's awareness of India's relationship with the world in
various spheres such as the following:

Foreign Affairs with special emphasis on Indias relations with neighbouring countries and in the
region.

Security and defence related matters.

Nuclear policy, issues, and conflicts.

The Indian Diaspora and its contribution to India and the world.

(2) Indias Economic Interaction with the World

In this part, questions will be on economic and trade issues such as foreign trade, foreign investment;
economic and diplomacy issues relating to oil, gas and energy flows; the role and functions of I.M.F.,
World Bank, W.T.O., WIPO etc. which influence Indias economic interaction with other countries and
international institutions.

(3) Developments in the Field of Science & Technology, IT and space

In this part, questions will test the candidate's awareness of the developments in the field of science
and technology, information technology, space and basic ideas about computers, robotics,
nanotechnology, biotechnology and related issues regarding intellectual property rights.
(4) International Affairs and Institutions
This part will include questions on important events in world affairs and on international institutions.
(5) Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams
This part will test the candidate's ability to draw conclusions from information presented in statistical,
graphical or diagrammatical form and to interpret them.

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose,
and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary
(iv) Short Essay
Note 1 : The Papers on English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying
nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Note 2 : The candidates will have to answer the English papers in English language (except where
translation is involved).

Paper-I
(1) Linear Algebra:
Vector spaces over R and C, linear dependence and independence, subspaces, bases, dimension;
Linear transformations, rank and nullity, matrix of a linear transformation.
Algebra of Matrices; Row and column reduction, Echelon form, congruences and similarity; Rank of a
matrix; Inverse of a matrix; Solution of system of linear equations; Eigenvalues and eigenvectors,
characteristic polynomial, Cayley-Hamilton theorem, Symmetric, skew-symmetric, Hermitian, skewHermitian, orthogonal and unitary matrices and their eigenvalues.
(2) Calculus:
Real numbers, functions of a real variable, limits, continuity, differentiability, mean-value theorem,
Taylor's theorem with remainders, indeterminate forms, maxima and minima, asymptotes; Curve
tracing; Functions of two or three variables: limits, continuity, partial derivatives, maxima and minima,
Lagrange's method of multipliers, Jacobian.
Riemann's definition of definite integrals; Indefinite integrals; Infinite and improper integrals; Double
and triple integrals (evaluation techniques only); Areas, surface and volumes.
(3) Analytic Geometry:

Cartesian and polar coordinates in three dimensions, second degree equations in three variables,
reduction to canonical forms, straight lines, shortest distance between two skew lines; Plane, sphere,
cone, cylinder, paraboloid, ellipsoid, hyperboloid of one and two sheets and their properties.
(4) Ordinary Differential Equations:
Formulation of differential equations; Equations of first order and first degree, integrating factor;
Orthogonal trajectory; Equations of first order but not of first degree, Clairaut's equation, singular
solution.
Second and higher order linear equations with constant coefficients, complementary function, particular
integral and general solution.
Second order linear equations with variable coefficients, Euler-Cauchy equation; Determination of
complete solution when one solution is known using method of variation of parameters.
Laplace and Inverse Laplace transforms and their properties; Laplace transforms of elementary
functions. Application to initial value problems for 2nd order linear equations with constant coefficients.
(5) Dynamics & Statics:
Rectilinear motion, simple harmonic motion, motion in a plane, projectiles; constrained motion; Work
and energy, conservation of energy; Kepler's laws, orbits under central forces.
Equilibrium of a system of particles; Work and potential energy, friction; common catenary; Principle of
virtual work; Stability of equilibrium, equilibrium of forces in three dimensions.
(6) Vector Analysis:
Scalar and vector fields, differentiation of vector field of a scalar variable; Gradient, divergence and curl
in cartesian and cylindrical coordinates; Higher order derivatives; Vector identities and vector
equations.
Application to geometry: Curves in space, Curvature and torsion; Serret-Frenets formulae.
Gauss and Stokes theorems, Greens identities.

Paper-II
(1) Algebra:
Groups, subgroups, cyclic groups, cosets, Lagranges Theorem, normal subgroups, quotient groups,
homomorphism of groups, basic isomorphism theorems, permutation groups, Cayleys theorem.
Rings, subrings and ideals, homomorphisms of rings; Integral domains, principal ideal domains,
Euclidean domains and unique factorization domains; Fields, quotient fields.
(2) Real Analysis:
Real number system as an ordered field with least upper bound property; Sequences, limit of a
sequence, Cauchy sequence, completeness of real line; Series and its convergence, absolute and
conditional convergence of series of real and complex terms, rearrangement of series.
Continuity and uniform continuity of functions, properties of continuous functions on compact sets.
Riemann integral, improper integrals; Fundamental theorems of integral calculus.
Uniform convergence, continuity, differentiability and integrability for sequences and series of functions;
Partial derivatives of functions of several (two or three) variables, maxima and minima.
(3) Complex Analysis:
Analytic functions, Cauchy-Riemann equations, Cauchy's theorem, Cauchy's integral formula, power
series representation of an analytic function, Taylors series; Singularities; Laurent's series; Cauchy's
residue theorem; Contour integration.

(4) Linear Programming:

Linear programming problems, basic solution, basic feasible solution and optimal solution; Graphical
method and simplex method of solutions; Duality.
Transportation and assignment problems.
(5) Partial differential equations:
Family of surfaces in three dimensions and formulation of partial differential equations; Solution of
quasilinear partial differential equations of the first order, Cauchy's method of characteristics; Linear
partial differential equations of the second order with constant coefficients, canonical form; Equation of
a vibrating string, heat equation, Laplace equation and their solutions.
(6) Numerical Analysis and Computer programming:
Numerical methods: Solution of algebraic and transcendental equations of one variable by bisection,
Regula-Falsi and Newton-Raphson methods; solution of system of linear equations by Gaussian
elimination and Gauss-Jordan (direct), Gauss-Seidel(iterative) methods. Newton's (forward and
backward) interpolation, Lagrange's interpolation.
Numerical integration: Trapezoidal rule, Simpson's rules, Gaussian quadrature formula.
Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations: Euler and Runga Kutta-methods.
Computer Programming: Binary system; Arithmetic and logical operations on numbers; Octal and
Hexadecimal systems; Conversion to and from decimal systems; Algebra of binary numbers.
Elements of computer systems and concept of memory; Basic logic gates and truth tables, Boolean
algebra, normal forms.
Representation of unsigned integers, signed integers and reals, double precision reals and long
integers.
Algorithms and flow charts for solving numerical analysis problems.
(7) Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics:
Generalized coordinates; D' Alembert's principle and Lagrange's equations; Hamilton equations;
Moment of inertia; Motion of rigid bodies in two dimensions.
Equation of continuity; Euler's equation of motion for inviscid flow; Stream-lines, path of a particle;
Potential flow; Two-dimensional and axisymmetric motion; Sources and sinks, vortex motion; NavierStokes equation for a viscous fluid.