Strategy for G.S. (Main Exam) - About Preparation

UPSC Communique in December 1999 brought about major changes in the course contents of General Studies. Essentially these changes represent a revision in the course contents. The analysis of the nature of changes brings to the light the fact that these are associated with incorporation of new sections in their independent status, deletion of some topics and introduction of some new topics in the old sections. The new parts of the syllabus carry about 110 marks as it has been established by the Main Examination 2000 & 2001 which were conducted on the basis of new syllabus.

The changes introduced make General Studies more comprehensive and incorporate many new things which were hitherto not the part of it. The changes have put many a condidate in a bewildered and perplexed state. In the Main Examination 2000 a large number of Civil Services Aspirants fail to perform well or even satisfactory and consequently got poor marks. The reason was obvious — they failed to conceive the nature of change properly, they failed to form idea about the type of questions which would be put and they failed to understand the magnitude of the work it demanded.

This article aims at putting forward various facets of change and the idea how to formulate a new strategy in consonance with changes. I am presenting various new sections & changes independently on the basis of the priority they have received in the previous two Main Examinations 2000 & 2001 based on new syllabus with the trends of questions and strategy to prepare.

This section is a part of the Second Paper of General Studies. This has emerged as a significant section carrying about 60 marks and posed the greatest challenges to the Civil Services Aspirants writing General Studies Papers because of the nature of the questions related to it and wide coverage of various areas.

The core of this section is India's relationship with the world in various spheres - Political, Economic, Socio-cultural. This subsumes manifold facets of this relationship and various channels and modes through which this relationship has been established and cemented. This incorporates variety of bonds and links in this relationship as well.

First significant part of this section is India's Foreign Policy. This aspect calls for a holistic comprehension, that is, India's foreign Policy in its manifold manifestations. There is a wide scope of putting questions from here and in the previous two main examinations some questions have been asked as well viz. (a) Non-alignment is a need, not a creed (Main Exam, 2000), (b) How can India accommodate her foreign policy principle of non-intervention with the emerging right to intervention (Main Exam, 2000). What is India's Look East Policy (Main Exam, 2001).

This section is important and one should expect questions from this area in the forthcoming examinations as well. We are giving below a comprehensive list of various parts, each might constitute a question associated with this area. The list would give the Civil Services Aspirants a good idea about various types of questions which might be put from this area.

1. Larger Background of Foreign Policy
2. Various Fundamental Principles
3. Non-Alignment — core principles
4. Non-Alignment — relevance in Indian Context
5. Non-Alignment — relevance now
6. Non-Alignment as an instrument for World peace
7. Non-Alignment as an Economic Movement
8. J.L. Nehru and Non-Alignment
9. Panchsheel — Basic principle
10. Panchsheel — Relevance in the present context
11. Aims & objectives of Foreign Policy
12. Recent trends in India's Foreign Policy
13. India's Foreign Policy — Elements of Self-assertion
14. India's Foreign Policy — Harmony between the Policy of non-intervention and intervention
15. India's Foreign Policy towards neighbours
16. Gujral Doctrine
17. Look East Policy
18. "New Journey to East" as a Policy
19. Role of idiosyncratic factors in Foreign Policy
20. Determinants in India's Foreign Policy
21. Economic dimensions of Foreign Policy
22. India's Foreign Economic Policy
23. Foreign Aid
24. New International Economic Order and India
25. New Challenges to India's Foreign Policy

The second significant part of this section is closely associated with "India's role in International affairs" — this subsumes India's role in international organisations, India's response and reaction to various events and occurrence as well. This aspect is to be conceived in current perspective and to be studied and prepared in the same perspective too. Civil Services Aspirants going to appear at CSE 2003 should take into consideration various facets of development outside India and how India responds. We are giving below a list (as given in the previous part) of various aspects associated with this part.

1. India and NAM
2. India and ASEAN
3. India and WTO
4. India and G-15
5. India and G-8
6. India and G-24
7. India and G-77
8. India and SAARC
9. India and S-E Asia region
10. Role of India in the economic development of S-E Asian region
11. India's claim for the permanent membership of UN Security Council
12. India's role in UN
13. India's role in curbing International Terrorism
14. India & Indian Ocean Rim

Third part of this section pertains to issues related to "India's external security". This part is associated with problems, challenges and threats to India's external security as well as India's efforts, moves and actions in this connection. This part incorporates numerous facets of military moves and development of nuclear capacity as well. An important aspect of this part is policy making, formation of study groups and foundation of institutions and organisation for this purpose. Given below is the list of various facets associated with this part.

1. Challenges to external security
2. Cross-boarder terrorism as a threat to external security
3. Boarder-disputes as a challenge to external security
4. India's responses to boarder-dispute with special reference to Pakistan and China
5. National Security Council — structure, aim and functions
6. Missile Development Programme
7. Issue of Chief of Defence Staff
8. Operation "Poorna Vijaya"

Fourth part of this section is "India's relations with prominent world nations, organisation and neighbours". This part too is altogether current in nature and last one year's development in this context constitutes the core of this part. This part subsumes various controversial issues in this connection as well. Cultural dimensions of the relations too are to be taken into consideration wherever that becomes meaningful. In this context relations with certain countries are usually important every year because of various reasons. These relations constitute important questions almost every year. The list below would help you form a comprehensive idea about it.

1. India's relations with neighbouring countries viz. Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka etc. — various conflicting issues involved — moves towards better relations.
2. Indo - US relations
3. Indo - Russia relations
4. Indo - France relations
5. Indo - UK relations
6. Indo - Israel relations
7. Indo — Nepal relations
8. Indo — Bangladesh relations
9. Indo — South-East Asia
10. Indo — EU relations

In fifth part of this section issues associated with "India's Nuclear Policy". India's Nuclear Policy has shown a paradigmatic shift in recent time — Pokharan II has imparted it a new character. In the light of this development various facets of the Nuclear Policy, India's new stand and emerging world view have become important. Many questions have been put from this part in the previous two main examinations viz. (a) Differentiate and state the Significance of Pokharan I & II (Main Examination 2000), (b) What is deterrence (Main Examination 2000), (c) Outline the salient features of India's Nuclear Policy and explain the reasons for India's refusal to sign the CTBT (Main Examination 2001).

1. Aims & objecties of India's Nuclear Policy
2. New dimensions of India's Nuclear Policy
3. Deterrence - an element of India's new Nuclear Policy
4. India's Nuclear Policy & India's Security
5. India as a Nuclear Power
6. World response to India's New Nuclear Policy
7. India and CTBT
8. India and NPT

Sixth part of this section is "Indians abroad". This part revolves around the subject matter associated with the role of the Indians living abroad in the larger interests of India and India's Policy towards them. A significant facet of this part is how in recent times the Indian government has pursued policy to integrate them into India's development. In the previous two main examinations there was a separate part containing five questions in the second paper of the General Studies viz.

1. What does the Global organisation of people of India origin stand for? (Main Examination 2000)
2. What is the impact of economic sanctions against India on NRIs? (Main Examination 2000)
3. Examine the role of NRI's in the liberalisation process of India. (Main Examination 2000)
4. Mention few NRI's who have brought name and fame for India. (Main Examination 2000)
5. In what fields have NRI's excelled in the developed countries? (Main Examination 2001)
6. In which specialities Indians are most wanted abroad? (Main Examination 2001)
7. What efforts are being made by Indian Government to look after NRI's? (Main Examination 2001)
8. What is the contribution of the NRI's to India's development? (Main Examination 2001)
9. Why do NRI's retain their emotional attachment to India? (Main Examination 2001)

Given below are the various aspects associated with this part :

1. Role of NRI's in India's development
2. Indian government's Policy towards NRI's
3. Role of NRI's in Economic Development of India
4. NRI's - their distinguished achievements in various fields
5. Demand of Indians abroad
6. NRI's association with India — various contours
7. NRI's — Geographical distribution
8. Role of NRI's in liberalisation process in India
9. PIO card scheme
10. The issue of Dual Citizenship
11. NRI's and their role in IT
12. Various moves of the Indian government to look after the requirements of NRIs.

International Institutions

This section has been incorporated in the second paper of General Studies. In the new course contents of General Studies provided by the UPSC this section constitutes the part of the topic International Affairs and Institutions. The Main Examinations, 2000 and Main Examination 2001 have not established any clear-cut pattern of the questions related to this section. In the Main Examination 2000

7 two short questions were put from this section each carrying 10 marks. These were Universal Postal Union and Economic and Social Council. In the main examination 2001 there was no question related to this section.

Although the previous main examinations have failed to exhibit any consolidated trend of question related to this section, yet it is quite clear from the nature of the section that it calls for study of the important international institutions in the following terms :

(a) Year of establishment, (b) Aims & objectives, (c) Role and functions, (d) Any important role in recent time.

The Civil Services Aspirants are advised to take into consideration the writing of about 150 words on each institution. We are giving below a list of some importat international institutions. Civil Services Aspirants are advised to go through them and conmprehend the nature of this section.

1. United Nations Organisation
2. World Bank
3. International Monetary Fund
4. World Trade Organisation
5. UNESCO
6. Red Cross
7. Asian Development Bank
8. Universal Postal Union
9. Economic & Social Council
10. Security Council
11. The Trusteeship Council
12. The International Court of Justice
13. International Telecommunication Union
14. World Health Organisation
15. International Labour Organisation
16. International Finance Corporation
17. International Development Association
18. UNICEF
19. World Meteorological Organisation
20. UNCTAD
21. UNDP
22. UNEP
23. UNFPA
24. UNITAR
25. FAO
26. IMO
27. WIPO
28. IFAD
29. UNIDO

Topics of Social Relevance is a new section in the First Paper General Studies carrying about 30 marks. This is not a seperate section rather a part of the section Current National Issues and topics of social relevance. This complete section carries 80 marks. Current National Issues were part of the old syllabus of General Studies. In the revised syllabus Topics of Social Relevance have been added and here we are concerned with these topics only since the parts of General Studies under discussion are new parts only. In the previous two main examinations some questions have been put viz.

1. Discuss the provisions of the Human Rights Protection Act, (1993) (Main Examination 2000)
2. Discuss the propositions laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the context of Torture in Prisons and Human Dignity (Main Examination 2000)
3. Review the population policy of the Govt. of India giving the distinguishing features (Main Examination 2001)

In the Main Examination 2001 there were some short notes on some national institutions like ICCR, Sports Authority of India, NCERT, Lalit Kala Akademi etc. This section also calls for study of the topics in current perspective. Development of complete one year preceding the main examination is the core area of study.

Topics of Social Relevance subsume variety of aspects related to Population, Health, Social Welfare, Women, Developmeent, Literacy, Human Rights, Environment, Role

of National Institutions etc. Given below are some significant aspects associated with this section. These aspects can be taken as important questions for next Main Examination to be held in 2002.

1. Problems Concerning Population
2. Population Explosion in India
3. Different Programmes Related to Development of Women
4. National Women Commission — Its Role
5. Role of Family Court
6. Role of Lok Adalat
7. Legal Aid
8. Role of Nagar Palika institution in Social Development
9. Socio - Economic Development — New Orientation in Planning Process
10. Role of Panchayati Raj in Social Development
11. Welfare of SCs & STs
12. Constitutional Safeguards given to SCs & STs
13. National Commission for SCs & STs
14. Welfare of Backward Classes - Various Programmes
15. Welfare of Minorities
16. TRIFED
17. National Council of Educational Research and Training
18. Open University in India
19. Open School in India
20. National Health Programme
21. Role of Indian Council of Medical Research
22. Issues related to Human Rights
23. Bonded Labour
24. Child Labour
25. National Human Rights Commission — Function and Role
26. Human Rights & Supreme Court
27. Internal Security - Challenges and Solution
28. Problems Related to National Integration
29. Federal Character of Indian Polity & Integration
30. Issue of Conversion
31. Conservation of Natural Resources
32. Supreme Court and Environment
33. National Conservation Policy
34. Biosphere Reserves
35. Forest Policy
36. Pollution Control
37. Central Pollution Control Board
38. Significance of National Institutions
39. Non-Governmental Organisation—Function & Role

Apart from the inclusion of independent sections like Topics of Social Relevance in the First Paper and India and the World and International Institutions in the second paper, there are some other changes here and there in both the papers — these changes represent deletion of some topics, addition of some topics and change in the overall format or pattern of questions.

These changes are first discernible in the section History of Modern India and Indian Culture. The Topic Thoughts of Gandhi, Nehru and Tagore which was a part of this section has been deleted in the revised syllabus - so now there is no independent questions on this as they used to be there in the previous examinations. Besides the pattern of questions too stands changed. Now one has to attempt 250 word question from Modern India & National Movement (beginning 1850 onwards) carrying 30 marks and two 150 word question from the same area carrying 15 marks each. And there are fifteen 20 word questions from personality and Indian Culture where Civil Services Aspirants are required to attempt all. Now the preparation of this section carrying 90 marks demand study of Modern India and National Movement beginning with the Revolt of 1857 and ending with Integration of native states in 1947-48 and study of Indian Culture in its various facets — architecture, painting, sculpture, music, religious ideas and beliefs, socio-cultural-religious movements and reforms, theatre, dance, drama, cinema, literature, socio-cultural institutions and organisations (from Ancient to Contemporary) and personalities (from Ancient to Modern but emphasis is there on personalities associated with Freedom Movement).

In the Second Paper of General Studies some minor changes are visible in the section Indian Economy. This change is related to addition of a topic that is Role & functions of IMF, World Bank and WTO.

This topic is, in any way, to be studied in the section Indian Economy in the context of their role in India's development, besides their adverse impact on Indian interests. Besides IMF, World Bank and WTO are parts of the section, International Institutions. In any case one may expect questions from this topic in the section of Indian Economy in the second paper.

A conspicous change which has been introduced in the General Studies paper in the Main Examination 2001 and appears to be an established pattern is incorporation of a large number of very short answer type questions carrying 140 marks. This makes General Studies paper more scoring. One can get 2 out of 2 (one question carries 2 marks) in these questions. Proper answering of such questions calls for greater awareness. Civil Services Aspirants are advised to increase their awareness level by going through various magazines and newspapers. What they need is to make the study of General Studies comprehensive so that they may not fail to write the answers to these questions.

In the Main Examination 2000 there were 15 such questions in the section Modern India, 5 in Indian Geography, 5 in Indian Polity and 5 in Current National Issues. Whereas in the Second Paper, 10 in India and the World, 15 in Indian Economy, 10 in International Affairs and 5 in Science & Technology. Almost the same trend has been followed in the Main Examination 2001, 2002 and 2003