UPSC PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER ANALYSIS -2015
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SERIES ARTICLE-78 (GS UPSC PRELIMS 2015) -
Question paper with Key
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMS- Analysis of the General studies question paper.
In the present pattern of the CS exams, the first step of getting through preliminary has become a little hurdle for many, as negative marking has been introduced long back and the Pass mark of CSAT, many face problem of adequate time , even though it is only qualifying with 33%. As a trainer and as a former civil servant I have been observing the UPSC pattern for the past so many years, I thought I will share my ideas and the analysis of the present pattern with the students.
The following are my observations.
1. UPSC never deviates from the standard pattern of questions in the total 100. May be year to year it varies for the various GS subjects. One year for example like last year they asked number of questions in the Indian culture, this year except one single question on Buddhism, no question. This year many questions can be answered with little application of mind. Many questions are from old questions in varied forms. One must see old question papers also and practice.
2. Last year no questions on current affairs, but this year many questions on the current events.
3. 20 questions are fixed on Geo, Environment and Biodiversity.
4. Some of the favorite questions of UPSC
a. POLITY
The questions include 1858 Act, 1892 council Act, 1919 council Act, 1935 Act, Directive principles of state Policy , Fundamental duties , Schedules , Important amendments , CAG, Finance commission, Parliament, Speaker, Consolidated fund of India , Contingency fund, Public Account, Art 370, PAC, COPU, Money bill, Joint sitting , How constitution assembly members were elected, President, Governor, Supreme court. Armed Forces act, Golaknath case , Keshavanand Bharati case , Role of Rajyasabha, .Vote on account, charged and voted expenditure , JPC, Interim budget. State reorganization, art 370, Attorney General , what are the items included in 42nd amendment on DPS.
They may ask in future years, the questions from the current major issues .
capital punishment , Sec 677 of IT act, Varma committee recommendations on crime against women, Sec 49 (O) of RP act 1951, the various political parties started by whom , Sec 8(4) 1 of RP act, Governor’s removal SC guidelines , Privacy issues , NHRC, CVC, CCI, CIC, Lokayukta, Lokpal, President’s pardoning powers, President’s ordinance powers, Judicial reference , President’s veto powers , Election of President , Vice President, Delimitation , emergency powers , Interstate council,
b. GENERAL QUESTIONS
Population, water related questions , MSP, sugarcane price problems, Girl child rations, Indian consumer welfare act 1986, Indian child welfare act, common contemporary diseases, Rights issues , Sundarbans, Mangroves , Sundarbans, WTO, Disinvestment , SEZ, census related questions, current international major conferences where India was also a partner. National parks, Festivals, dances , various tribes –one must spend a lot of time in reading GK books , International organizations – present meetings , every year they will ask the name of annual reports published by IMF, OECD, The world Bank, role of IMF , IDA ete. National innovation Fund, IUCN, Land Boundary agreement, 100th amendment , Article 3 , Iran issues, Science everyday facts , photo synthesis, common diseases , vitamins and diseases , Human physiology, Nutrinos.
c. HISTORY CULTURE AND MODERN INDIA
Questions from Indus valley , Vedic , Buddhism, Jainism, Hindu philosophy, architecture , Sufism, Ambassadors who visited India in whose period, Gupta architecture , Sufism, Sikh Gurues , Khalsa Panth Bhakti movements , Mughal architecture . Lingaraj Temple, Deogarh, Khaujirao, Konark, Hoysala temples, Mahabalipuram temple, Konark temple, Jama masjid, Red Fort, Imambara Lucknow, Ajanta , Ellora, Saravana Belgola, Virupaksha temple, Shalimar gardens, Sanchi, sarnath. UPSC is very fond of asking questions on Indigo movement , Home rule movement, Swarajist, Wardha scheme of education , communal award , Usha Mehat Radio, Ghadar party, Madam cama , Cabinet mission , CR Formula, 1946 Naval Mutiny , INA, Swadeshi, Congress split.
The Modern India lots of questions come from Extremists , Social Reform movements Raja Ram Mohan roy, Dayanad Saraswati , Syed Ahmed Khan, ( even though this year it has not come) Kheda Sathyagraha , Direct action day, Salt Sathygraha, Khilafat, Non cooperation movement , why congress resigned, the various commissions of British govement like Butler committee, some of the women who were social reformers like Muthulakshmi Reddy, Durgabhai Deshmukh, Aruna Asaf Akli, Sister Subbalakshmi, Panditha Rama Bhaii,
d. THE INDIAN ECONOMY
Banking linking CRR, SLR with monetary policy, NBFC , Baselle Plan , NPA, Repo rate , Prime lending rate , convertibility , Financial inclusion , Agriculture credit, MSME, SEZ, Disinvestment , WTO, NIMZ, Govt. Programs, Fiscal policy, NITI ayog, Renewable sources of energy , MSP, what is capital account , FRBM, GST, VAT, committees and commission , Inflation , Fertilizers , Tax GDP, Marginal standing facility, Indranush, Nachiket Mor committee , Start ups , The land acquisition act , 14th Finance commission , some questions are the most obvious simple questions they ask . Next year they may ask, Make in India, Digital India, Skills India, Indradhanush, Payment Banks, BRICKS Bank, Smart City, Atal Pension , Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Pradhan Mantri sinchaai Yojana.
One must read the problems of coal sector, sugar issues, and water issues, second green revolution, Agricultural marketing, Forwards market commission , PDS, Antyodya yojana , Fluorescent lamps , Ethanol, LED, HDI, UN Sustainable Development goals , Little more in-depth on agriculture is needed.