Pathfinder Civil Services Main Examination

Contents
Introduction: T.P.Sreenivasan
NACS–The Pathfinder G.Sukumaran Nair
Editor’s Note: Divya S. Iyer
The Way to Civil Services: APM Mohammed Hanish
KS
Take Charge of the Change: Divya S. Iyer
Main Examination- SYLLABI
O
Main Examination- General Studies : Divya S. Iyer
BO
Subjects in the Syllabi

Scheme of Study
Suggested Reading
C
Essays: Windows into Ideas and Minds: K. Gopalakrishnan

D
The Art of Choosing: Divya S. Iyer

Personality Test:
The Real Test of Your Personality: Divya S .Iyer
Strategy for Success: C.S.Shaijumon
The NSS Academy of
Civil Services (NACS): N. Gangadharan Nair
Conclusion: T.P.Sreenivasan
Contributors
Introduction
Pathfinder is an effort to equip the aspirants to the Civil Services
to navigate through the bewildering maze of the syllabus of the
Main examination, particularly of the newly introduced General
Studies papers. Prepared essentially for the NSS Academy of Civil
Services (NACS) to give its faculty a framework for teaching the
General Studies papers, the material is being made available widely
in a spirit of sharing. It also provides a glimpse of the topics, which
KS
will be covered in the Main Examination course, which is currently
under way at NACS. I hope that the aspirants will benefit from the
book, whether they attend NACS classes or prepare by themselves,
O
following the path suggested here.
Our editor, Dr.Divya Iyer, with her recent experience of the
BO
examination, which secured for her a creditable position in the

service, with very high marks in the personality test, has
conceptualized, planned and composed a large part of this book.
She has drawn up, in the order of priority, a list of the topics that
C
must be covered under various sections of the syllabus and has

contributed several articles on different aspects of the examination.
D
This book is the fruit of her thoughtful initiative and relentless

efforts. The other contributors to the book are also experts in their
respective fields. The editor has acknowledged their contributions
separately.
For me, the establishment of NACS and its performance so far
are a dream come true. Having had the benefit of serving in the
Indian Foreign Service for 37 years, I felt that I should motivate
and assist the young generation to compete for the Civil Services.
Even after the advent of the vast opportunities in the private sector,
the Civil Services still provide the most attractive opportunity to
serve the cause of the people and to make a difference. The success
7
Introduction
contemporary national and international scene. Good articulation

of ideas in words and writing is of utmost importance and special
attention will be given to reasoning and logic. The advantage in
attending a good academy of Civil Services is that it provides
opportunities for exchange of ideas, group discussions and
collective thinking.
Compared to the time that I took the examination successfully
in 1966, the level of difficulty of the examination has increased.
The preliminary examination, known as the aptitude test, designed
to screen candidates for the Main Examination, has proved to be
tricky because of its broad sweep and lack of clear guidelines of
study. Some good candidates have met their Waterloo in the
Preliminary Examination. The latest scheme for the Main
KS
Examination has further increased its width and depth. On the
other hand, the extended age limit and the increase in possible
chances for appearing in the examination have bestowed
O
advantages, compared to earlier times.
As a self-proclaimed evangelist of the Indian Foreign Service,
BO
I regret the diminishing interest of high rank holders in the

Diplomatic Service. Part of the reason for this is the inadequate
knowledge about the opportunities and challenges of the Foreign
Service and exaggerated notions about its hazards. At a time when
C
the profile of India is rising on the international firmament, our

best young men and women should flock to the Foreign Service.
D
At NACS, we intend to encourage the aspirants to consider a

diplomatic career with full knowledge of its charms and challenges.
I hope that the Pathfinder will be of immense value to its users.
The eventual success will depend on the manner in which the
material is used imaginatively. The aspirants should choose their
own level of studies to suit the availability of time, the level of
preparedness in the past and the capacity to delve deep into each
subject. We at NACS will rejoice if the book is found helpful by
anyone. This is a competition and our wish is only that the best
should win.
T.P. Sreenivasan
9
NACS–The Pathfinder
I am glad that the NSS Academy of Civil Services (NACS) has
devised a strategy to tackle the Civil Services Main Examination
and decided to share it with the aspirants all over India with the
help of D C Books. Such a strategy is extremely important as the
Main Examination this year is breaking new ground and there is a
crying need for a publication of this kind to guide the aspirants.
NACS has been in existence only for a year, but its team has already
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made a mark in the best traditions of N S S institutions, inspired
by the vision and hard work of its founder, Mannath Padmanabhan.
It is emerging as one of the premier Civil Service training
O
institutions in India, with a visionary leadership, brilliant faculty
and first-rate facilities. I am sure that its new venture to publish a
BO
volume for the benefit of aspirants far and wide will secure a
prominent place for NACS among the best Civil Services Academies
in India. I congratulate the NACS team and the other contributors
to the book on this project and hope that the publication will be a
C
major contribution to the preparations for the Civil Services

Examinations in the future.
D
G. Sukumaran Nair
N S S General Secretary

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Contents

Subjects in the Syllabi

Essays: Windows into Ideas and Minds: K. Gopalakrishnan

The Art of Choosing: Divya S. Iyer

examination, which secured for her a creditable position in the

must be covered under various sections of the syllabus and has

This book is the fruit of her thoughtful initiative and relentless

contemporary national and international scene. Good articulation

I regret the diminishing interest of high rank holders in the

the profile of India is rising on the international firmament, our

At NACS, we intend to encourage the aspirants to consider a

major contribution to the preparations for the Civil Services

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