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Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics, They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely, Credit will be given for effective and exact expression

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues

The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.— their forms and effect on the society

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and their remedies

Effects of globalization on Indian society. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism

Salient features of the world’s physical geography

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone,s, etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges about the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein

Separation of powers between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions

Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising out of these

Structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity

Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies

Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Issues relating to poverty and hunger

Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures

Role of civil services in a democracy

India and its neighborhood- relations

Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development, and employment

Inclusive growth and issues arising from it

Government Budgeting

Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers

Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing

Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management

Land reforms in India

Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc

Investment models

Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights

Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Disaster and disaster management

Linkages between development and spread of extremism

Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security

Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cybersecurity; money-laundering and its prevention

Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism

Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; the role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values

Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion

Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker-sections

Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance

Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance

Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption

Case Studies on the above issues

Animal Nutrition: Partitioning of food energy within the animal. Direct and indirect calorimetry. Carbon—nitrogen balance and comparative slaughter methods , Latest advances in protein nutrition , Major and trace minerals—Their sources , Feed additives—methane inhibitors , Advances in ruminant nutrition. Nutrient requirements , Poultry nutrition. Special features of poultry nutrition , etc.

Animal Physiology: Physiology of blood and its circulation , Blood constituents , Circulation, Respiration ,Excretion ,Endocrine glands ,Growth and Animal Production ,Physiology of Milk Production ,Environmental Physiology , etc.

Animal Reproduction: Semen quality. Preservation and Artificial Insemination Components of semen, composition of spermatozoa, chemical and physical properties of ejaculated semen, etc.

Livestock Production and Management : Commercial Dairy Farming ,Commercial meat, egg and wool production, Feeding and management of animals under drought, flood and other natural calamities, etc.

Genetics and Animal Breeding: History of animal genetics. Mitosis and Meiosis , Population Genetics applied to Animal Breeding, Breeding Systems, etc.

Extension: Basic philosophy, objectives, concept and principles of extension. Different Methods adopted to educate farmers under rural conditions, etc.

Anatomy, Pharmacology and Hygiene: Histology and Histological Techniques, Embryology, Bovine Anatomy, Anatomy of Fowl, pharmacology and therapeutics drugs, Veterinary Hygiene with reference to water, air and habitation, etc.

Animal Diseases: Etiology, epidemiology pathogenesis, symptoms, Etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis , Deficiency diseases of domestic animals and birds, Diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, Principles and methods of immunisation of animals against specific diseases hard immunity , Anaesthesia, Disease investigation techniques, etc.

Veterinary Public Health: Zoonoses, Epidemiology, Veterinary Jurisprudence, etc.

Milk and Milk Products Technology: Market Milk, Milk Products Technology, etc.

Meat Hygiene and Technology: Meat Hygiene, Hygienic methods of handling production of meat, Meat Technology, Physical and chemical characteristics of meat, By-products, Poultry Products Technology, Rabbit/Fur Animal farming, etc.

Meaning, Scope and development of Anthropology, Relationships with other disciplines, Main branches of Anthropology, Human Evolution and emergence of Man, Human Evolution and emergence of Man, Characteristics of Primates, Phylogenetic status, The biological basis of Life, Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology, etc.

The Nature of Culture, The Nature of Society, Marriage, Family, Kinship

Microbiology and Plant Pathology: Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses,viroids, bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma; Applications of microbiology in agriculture,Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and nematodes; Modes of infection and dissemination; Molecular basis of infection and disease, etc.

Cryptogams: Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes-structure, etc.

Plant Resource Development: Domestication and introduction of plants; Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov’s centres of origin. Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibres, spices, beverages, edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes, etc.

 Morphogenesis: Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and differentiation; Cell, tissue, etc.

Cell Biology: Techniques of cell biology. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells structural and ultrastructural details; Structure and function of extracellular matrix (cell wall) and membranes-cell adhesion, etc

Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution: Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles); Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic inheritance, multiple alleles, Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, Role of RNA in origin and evolution, etc.

Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics: Methods of plant breeding—introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree, backcross, mass selection, bulk method); Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding. Use of apomixes in plant breeding; DNA sequencing; Genetic engineering, etc.

Physiology and Biochemistry: Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies. Photosynthesis— photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon fixation pathways; C3, C4 and CAM pathways; Mechanism of pholem transport, Growth substances—their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-horticulture, etc.

 Ecology and Plant Geography: Concept of ecosystem; Ecological factors. Concepts and dynamics of community, Forest types of India—‘Ecological and ecomomic importance of forests, afforestation, deforestation and social forestry; Endangered plants, endemism IUCN categories, etc.

Environmental Engineering, Water Supply, Intake of Water, Sewerage Systems, Sewage Characterisation, Sewage Treatment, Solid waste,etc. 

Financing Accounting: Accounting as a financial information system; Impact of behavioural sciences. Accounting Standards, Accounting for Share Capital Transactions including Bonus Shares, Right Shares , Emplyees Stock Option and Buy-Back of Securities, Preparation and Presentation of Company Final Accounts, Amalgamations, Absorption and Reconstruction of Companies, etc.

Cost Accounting: Nature and functions of cost accounting. Installation of Cost Accounting System, Methods of Costing , Volume-cost-Profit Relationship as a tool of Profit Planning, Incremental Analysis/Differential Costing, Techniques of Cost Control and Cost Reduction, etc.

Taxation: Income Tax: Definitions. Basis of charge; Incomes which do not form part of total income, salaries, income from house property, profits and gains from business or profession, capital gains, income from other sources, Income of other persons included in assessee’s total income, Set-off and Carry forward of Loss, Deductions from gross Total Income, Salient Features/Provisions Related to VAT and Services Tax, etc.

Auditing: Company Audit: Audit related to Divisible Profits, Dividends, Special investigations, Tax audit. Audit of banking, Insurance, Non-Profit Organization and Charitable societies/Trusts/Organizations.

Financial Management, Financial Institutions and Markets

Financial Management, Finance Function, Tools of Financial Analysis, Tools of Financial Analysis, Cost of Capital, Financing Decisions, Net Operating Income (NOI) Approach, MM Approach and Traditional Approach , Dividend Decisions and Valuation of Firm, Working Capital Management, Corporate Restructuring with focus on Mergers and Acquisitions, etc.

Financial Markets and Institutions, Indian Financial System, Money Markets, Capital Market, Financial Services, etc.

Organisation Theory and Behaviours, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations Organisation Theory and Behaviour

Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations

Human Resources Management (HRM)

Industrial Relations (IR)

Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania

India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

India After Independence by Bipan Chandra

History of Medieval India by Satish Chandra

Geography of India - Majid Hussain

World Geography- Majid Hussain

Oxford Atlas

Central Physical and Human Geography by GC Leong