ALS STRATEGY

GENERAL STUDIES - STRATEGY FOR PT

General Studies is an extremely dynamic component in the entire scheme of Civil Services Examination.
It is multidimensional in nature as it deals with diverse subject matter that is constantly evolving to keep
pace with the new developments. The preparation for this subject is considered as increasingly onerous
by many students. A total lack of understanding of the syllabus and the trend of the questions in the
exam is the reason behind such a feeling. GS can be handled with ease by meticulous and strategic
planning both during the time of preparation as well as during the exam.
The basic reason why GS becomes the grey area for many students is the wrongful notions or beliefs,
which has got associated with the paper.
The first and foremost wrong notion which many students have is that the GS paper is without any
syllabus. This is entirely false as a close analysis of the previous years papers reveal that the GS paper
does have a syllabus which is shaped and guided by the developments around. A good understanding of
the relevant events through varied mediums like newspapers, magazines, internet, television etc is the
need of the hour. UPSC is in search of vigilant and well-informed aspirants rather than the book worms.

The second myth about GS preparation is regarding reading the basic books like NCERT. Many students
consider reading such books as a waste of time keeping in mind the less proportion of questions coming
from these books. This is fundamentally wrong as the basic books should never be discarded. They form
a robust foundation of GS preparation. Moreover, the simple language used in these books gives a much
better understanding of the subject. Thus one must begin ones preparation for GS with the NCERT
books and gradually couple them with other relevant books required.

An important aspect of this exam is the minimum marks required in GS paper to clear the Preliminary
Exam. This is normally around 50%. So, general studies should be taken very seriously. The recent
changes in the nature of the examination further make it a formidable challenge. The newly added Civil
Services Aptitude Test (C-SAT) is the new twist in the preparation for the Civil Services Preliminary Exam.
To cater to this new change, the GS Strategist book has been upgraded and enriched in a comprehensive
way.

The Examination shall comprise of two compulsory papers of 200 marks each.

General Guidelines for handling the GS Papers
The questions in both the GS paper I and paper II will be of multiple choice objective type. There will be
penalty for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the objective type question paper except some of
the questions where the negative marking will be inbuilt in the form of different marks being awarded
to most appropriate and not so appropriate answers to such questions. This would apply for questions in
the paper II as well.

There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a wrong
answer has been given by the candidate, one third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be
deducted as penalty. If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer
even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for the
question. If a question is left blank i.e no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for
that question.

Since the answer sheets will be evaluated on computerized machines, candidates should exercise due
care in handling and filling up the OMR sheets. HB pencils should only be used to darken the circles.

In order to excel in G.S. and mould the change in the syllabus in your own favour, what is needed is a
comprehensive and strategic preparation covering all the dimensions of the syllabus well. The
preparation especially for the newly introduced CSAT paper should be elaborate covering all sections
well rather than focusing only on areas which were dominant in the 2012 Prelim Exams in terms of
questions. For instance, the 2012 paper had more questions from English while very less from a topic
like Interpersonal Skills. Students should escape the mistake of treating it as a model paper for the 2013
Prelim Exam. The emphasis should be on a comprehensive preparation, doing justice to each and every
topic of the syllabus.

The G.S. and the CSAT papers, therefore, are not a tough nut to crack as such. They can be handled with
much more ease provided the preparations are done in a systematic and strategic fashion. TheWizards
Strategist for GS can be an excellent guide in this regard as it provides you the pattern and the trend
analysis of questions asked in previous years.
Let us look into the subject-wise breakup of GS Papers.
GS Paper I
Polity
Of late, the importance of Indian Polity has increased tremendously in Preliminary and Main exams. It
is expected that this trend will continue in future also. In 2012, 18 questions were asked out of 100
questions. The best part is that the questions from Indian Polity are more or less straightforward which
can be easily answered with a careful study.

In polity, there are chapters from which questions are frequently being asked. These are the
Constitutional Developments, FRs, FDs and DPSP, Union Government, Judiciary, Amendments, Local
Governments, Federalism and Election process. Till 2000, questions on comparative government were
asked. But now-a-days Amendments, Elections, Federalism and Parliament have assumed significance.

Most of the available books lack information on current constitutional developments. So, a keen perusal
of newspapers and magazines is essential with a good knowledge of provisions of the Constitution. After
all, chapter-wise break-up is imperative which simplifies the problem and facilitate your
understanding. Wizards book on Indian Polity can be of great help in this regard.

General Science
It can be divided into 4 partsScience and Technology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. On an average,
25 to 30 questions can be expected from this section. In the past, sometimes more than 40 questions
were asked from this section. This year the total number of questions was 15. For students with Arts
backgrounds, this section is always a nightmare. But basic understanding of Science, especially a
thorough understanding of NCERTs, can solve most of the questions. Ignoring this area can be suicidal
for any candidate.

Science and Technology
Science and Technology has become an important section of GS since last 4 years. This year there were
6 questions from this section. Questions are mainly from the developments in India.

Biology
Among the General Science subjects, Biology is the most important. This year, however, only 3 questions
were asked. At least 8 to 10 questions can be expected from Biology in the coming years. Recent
analysis shows that questions on General Science covers general appreciation and understanding of day-
to-day science. So, observing and experiencing everyday science could be handy.

In Biology, the thrust is on Zoology. Only 2 to 3 questions are being asked from Botany, particularly from
agriculture, biological diversity and plant system. In Zoology, most of the questions are related to human
system and diseases. Communicable diseases and nutrition have always been significant.

Chemistry
In Chemistry, questions are comparatively less. Normally 5 to 6 questions can be expected. Application
part of chemistry is more important in the exam. Technical details and equations are not that
important.
Physics
Around 6 questions were asked from Physics this year, which is in the expected lines. After a keen
analysis of the Previous Years Questions, we come to know that questions are frequently asked from
the chapters like Mechanics, Optics, Heat and Thermodynamics, Electricity, Nuclear Physics, Modern
Physics, Sound and the Universe.

Economics
In Economics, even though most of the questions are from Indian Economy, one has to keep abreast of
International Economics that has its bearings on India.
In Indian Economy, now-a-days, most of the questions are asked from Industry, Agricultural production,
Exim Policy, Money and Banking, Public Finance and Reforms. National Income and International
Economic Forums constitute at least 2 questions. 3 to 4 questions are from different programmes
announced in the previous and the current fiscal year. In Economic reforms, infrastructure and reform
policies are to be taken care of. In Money and Banking, one has to keep an eye on Financial and Banking
Reforms.

The latest trend in Indian Economy shows that the importance of this section is increasing. Moreover,
most of the questions are of current nature. But these questions cannot be answered without a proper
understanding of traditional areas. Wizard Current Affairs for Preliminary as well asEconomic
Survey will be handy in this section.

This year, 18 out of 100 questions were asked from Economy. Many students are really afraid of
Economy. This is because of lack of understanding in basics. A good understanding of the subject can be
achieved by reading Class XI NCERT book on Indian Economy.

Geography
In Geography, the thrust has been on the Indian Geography, which covers around 70 per cent of the
questions.

In Indian Geography a thorough understanding of physical aspects of India with a proper clarity of
locations, is the minimum requirement. This will help in the economic as well as the human aspects of
Indian Geography.

In General Geography, the emphasis is on conceptual aspects. A careful study of A Certificate Course in
Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong is the least expected of you.
In World Geography, the emphasis is more on current developments, which can be covered by map
reading while going through the newspaper.

This year, 12 questions were asked from Geography. Around 6 questions were asked on Indian
Geography. In future, the weightage on Geography, especially Indian Geography, is expected to be
more. But the beauty of Geography lies in the fact that, it can be mastered with least effort. A proper
preparation of NCERT textbooks on Geography (from 6th to 12th) along with Goh Cheng Leong and
regular study of Atlas are more than sufficient.

History
A decent analysis of the previous years questions gives the impression that in the last three years, the
total number of History questions has shown a declining trend. But the level of toughness has increased.
Moreover, the questions are being asked from hitherto untouched areas, which have made the
preparation more difficult. So, over-dependence on History may prove to be fatal for non-History
background students in the future.

Of the total 18 questions asked this year, 12 of them were from Modern History, 1 question from
Medieval and 5 from Ancient.

In Indian History, maximum number of questions have been asked from the Modern History section,
particularly from the period between 1857 to 1947, i.e. the 1857 uprising, social reform movements,
British reforms in civil administration and in the other fields, Governor Generals and Nationalist
Movement under the Congress.

In Ancient India, the Vedic Age, Mauryan Period and the Gupta Period are dominating. Sultanate and
Mughal periods are the most important in the Medieval India. But, Marathas, Vijaynagar and Bahmani
kingdoms are getting more weightage since 2001.

The level of history questions in GS is often similar to that of Optional Paper. The conceptual questions
are mainly asked from socio-economic sphere. Such questions are more often asked from Modern India.
Ancient and Medieval parts are generally factual in nature.

Environment
Of late, the importance of environment has increased manifold in the Civil Services Preliminary
Examination. The number of questions being asked in the Exam is increasing consistently. This year
around 16 out of 100 questions were from this section. The trend is expected to be maintained in the
coming years as well.

Current Affairs
Current Affairs is one of the most important modules in the entire scheme of Civil Services Examination
because of its high utility at all the three levels i.e. Preliminary, Main and Interview. Though the number
of direct questions in the Prelim Examination seems to be on a declining trend but that should not be
taken as a set pattern because the trend may reverse any year. One thing which must be kept in mind is
that questions from conventional areas like Science & Technology, General Science, Environment,
Economics, Geography and Institutions are more current in nature which further makes this section of
paramount importance.

Current Affairs is a vast area comprising of events of national and international affairs, bilateral
developments, sports and personalities in various fields along with prizes and honours of highest
accolade. The UN and its agencies and heads of corporate sectors which falls within the ambit of current
affairs have also become important.

GS Paper II (CSAT)
From 2011, the UPSC has introduced a new format for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. It has
added CSAT in the form of GS Paper II. The total number of questions asked in this paper is 80. Out of
these, 4 questions were from General Mental Ability, 1 question from Data Interpretation, 28 from
Reasoning and Analytical Ability, 7 from Decision Making & Problem Solving and 40 questions were from
English Comprehension. However, we should not make the mistake of treating it as a Model Paper for
next year Prelim Exam. The emphasis should be on comprehensive preparation, rather than focusing
only on areas which were dominant in the 2012 Exam.

In the final analysis, if we categories the questions beings asked, it is found that GS can be handled with
much more ease. It is not as frightening as what is projected by many. In fact this book can be an
excellent guide for beginners in understanding the pattern and trend of GS questions of both papers. A
successful candidate is the one who has faced the challenge with a proper planning and strategy.


CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTIONALS
Selecting right set of optionals is a big decision in Civil Services preparation. Think twice before you
decide because later this will consume your money and energy and most crucially your time.

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things...
I am tempted to think....
There are no little things.... -Bruce Burton

Remember that selecting the right set of Optionals is a big decision in Civil Services preparation. If you
are nervous about what subjects to choose for Optionals, it means you are on the right track. This is
because you are thinking and not jumping to conclusions. Many a time there is tremendous peer
pressure on selecting Optionals. Keep yourself at arm's length from such advices. Any advice which
promotes you to join the group, is bad because Civil Services Exam is quite a tailor-made examination
where everybody should play to one's strength. There is a tendency among peer groups to
magnify/underplay things. Please think twice before you decide because later this will consume your
money and energy and most crucially, your time.

How do you assess yourself for Optionals?
In UPSC parlance, the two Optionals are called first and second Optionals. First Optional is that optional
for any candidate that he takes in the Preliminary. It can be the subject of graduation/post graduation.
Second Optional is that optional which a candidate selects. A candidate with three to five years
familiarity with any subject makes first optional his natural choice. The decision on second optional is
more crucial. Candidates from the Science background generally face more problems because they
might have to prefer totally new subjects as their optionals.

We propose a thumb index to assess your preference for the optionals.

Interest: This is the most crucial parameter. If your mind is where your heart is, half the battle is won.
Interest keeps you attached and motivated during the stretched out course of preparation. There will be
sustained desire to know more about the subject. Hence, even if it is difficult for a while, you will have
enough motivation to see it through. Close your eyes and go back to your school days and recollect the
subject where you scored maximum. The book you look forward to reading always. Think of the subjects
you did not mind studying even in the eighth period.

Syllabus: If the factor of interest does not help you, get more realistic and turn to the syllabus of various
Optionals. Select one Optional and stay with it a day or two. Read every sub topic mentioned in it.
Reflect over it. See whether you can develop some chemistry with the subject.

Question Paper: If you still have not developed any particular liking for the Optional, turn to the
question paper, which is one step more realistic than the syllabus. Generally everybody is either analytic
or factual. Analytical people like questions where they have to discuss many things without giving many
factual details, whereas some people like learning facts by pure memory and prefer questions which
demand straight and factual answers. Read the questions of various Optionals and try to figure out
which subject makes you more comfortable.

Coaching/Reading Materials/Company: These factors play a crucial role during your preparation period.
Hence, if you are still non-committal on the above three parameters, you may go for any Optional which
your "trusted" friend is taking and the two of you will form great company in preparation. Similarly, if
there is a good teacher around (coaching) and you have "faith" in him, you may take an Optional on his
advice. Availability of good reading material is another factor on which you may decide. However, the
bottom line remains that ultimately it is between you and your Optional. Even if you are selecting an
Optional based on external factors, adopt it as your choice and face it resolutely.

High-scoring and low-scoring Optionals

High and low-scoring Optionals is a widely contested topic. Many candidates believe that certain
optionals score better than others do. There might be some truth in their observation. I would not be
too idealistic to assume that everything is perfect in the world of Civil Services Exam. However, at the
same time I must put on record that I have seen high scores in virtually all the subjects. That is, I have
seen students scoring around 200 in every Optional paper. This makes 400 per Optional. The subjects
that have crossed 400 are History, Sanskrit, Geography, Public Administration, Anthropology, English,
Psychology, Hindi, etc. Other science and engineering subjects also do equally well.

High scoring depends upon two factors. First, you should have done well in the examination. And
second, that UPSC has been kind enough to ask easy questions in that particular year. At times the
assessment factor also helps. On observation, you would notice that a particular subject does
exceedingly well in a given year. This is your lucky draw and you cannot do much about it. However,
UPSC tries to bring parity between different subjects but such efforts bring only limited relief to
candidates. A candidate must devote his energy to do his best in the exam by making sure that his
fundamentals are right. These fundamentals are that he has picked the subject of his liking, he
understands it well, and he is writing his answers well. This, to my mind, is an adequate state of
preparedness. Managing more than this is not humanly possible.

Loyalty to Optionals

Imagine that you have selected Optionals with due deliberation. You underwent all the rigours
demanded. You selected an optional of your choice. Your interest was also quite all right when you
selected the optional. However, when you started your real preparation, somewhere down the line you
realize that you have bitten off more than you can chew. Your interest is sagging and every time you
open your textbook it feels like you are in the shoes of Hercules This is the moment of your truth and
you are torn apart between continuing your Optional and leaving it midway. The fact that you have
already invested lot of your time and money in it keeps lurking in your mind. Moreover, there is a feeling
that you will be seen among your peers as fickle minded and somebody who cannot make the right
decision.

I am sorry but there are no easy answers to this. I would not like to urge you to go ahead and change
your Optional/s, for the simple reason: what if you do not like the new Optional also? Will you dump it
again? I am sure by this time the game will be over for you. Changing an Optional midway also creates a
sense of panic because there is the pressing need to make up the lost time, if not money. Fresh coaching
requirements may also disturb the preparation cycle that you are in. Weighing all concerns, I would say
that, it is not wise to change your Optional for ordinary constraints. It is better to fight one's way
through, than experimenting afresh.

I would not be doing justice if I asked you to tie yourself to your Optional till the day of eternity. After all
you do not have to prove any point against that particular Optional. Overall success in the examination
is what a common aspirant is gunning for. Making a prestige issue over small things is low maturity.
However, do not change your Optional for the following factors:
A friend has promised to help you in your new Optional,
Your coaching institute has just given you the merits of a new subject,
It is a hot new subject,
Your Optional is in minority,
You are surrounded by people who do not share your Optional,
The new Optional has a lot of reading material,
A good coach is in town.
Believe me, none of these factors and other factors which sound or mean similar should be the basis for
switching Optionals. As I have reminded time and again, an Optional is an extremely personal matter
and any other person intervening will only mess it up. Take your time and deliberate in isolation. Any
decision to change the Optional should be yours. Briefly, look for the following indications before you
change your Optional.
You are unable to understand major concepts of the subject even after help and guidance,
You are trying to learn it by cramming rather than by understanding,
You are particularly bad at something and that factor is the soul of the subject,
For you reading and understanding the subject is like flogging a dead horse,
You avoid any debate that relates to the subject,
You are perpetually at a loss and unsure,
You feel that the subject is not adding any kind of knowledge to you.
These are not the final set of situations that should motivate you to divorce your Optional. But as an
indicator, any other factor should either resemble or reflect the same kind of feelings as listed above. A
good judgement in the end, I must admit, is necessary.

One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything.
-George Christophe

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD ESSAY
In everyday life we observe people discussing and debating on various issues. In doing so they try to
outwit others. But when it comes to writing most of us grow cold. For instance, the issue of terrorism
and its threat to world place is such a relevant and significant issue that everbody has some or the other
opinion on the same. But if one is told to put his ideas on paper, it becomes a daunting task. Why is that
so? Is that because writing not only requires analytical thinking, but also a good command over
language, skills to put things systematically and cogently on paper as also to maintain focus on the issue.
However, essay writing is somewhat different from other kinds of writing since the topic is given only in
a capsuled form. It's upto the author to understand its relevance and significance. The candidate is
expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay, to arrange his ideas in orderly fashion, and to write
concisely. Credit is given for effective and exact expression. This may seem to be an insurmountable
obstacle, but once you learn 'the tricks of the trade', writing essays becomes not only easier, but also
worth enjoying.

So, what are those 'tricks of the trade'? Well, these are not something that you learn by listening or
reading. It's something like swimming. Unless you jump into the water you cannot learn to swim. But, of
course, you must know the basic principles and the rules of the game, so that you conform to the
expectations.

Now, when you are told to write an essay and are given a number of topics, your mind is filled with a
myriad number of questions. Some of these are:
Which topic to choose?
How to start and what to start with?
What could be an impressive beginning?
Should one begin with a quotation?
What should be the length of the essay?
How to conclude the essay?
How can one show a balance of judgement and yet express one's opinion?
Can one use a quotation in a language different from the medium of the essay?
Can one illustrate in point-form?
Can one criticise the government and its policies?
Should one use sub-titles? and, so on ....
Although there cannot be any fixed way of writing an essay, certainly there are some essential
elements which make an essay a good one. Now that you know the important elements that
make an essay (whatever be the topic) a good piece of writing, come to the more practical
aspects of the exercise one by one:
Choosing a Topic

Choosing the right topic from amongst a number of topics is very crucial. Topics could be political,
economic, social, scientific and so on... Now, the first consideration should be your area of interest. If
you are interested in political issues, prefer that one. If in social or scientific issues, choose a topic from
that area. Don't reject a particular topic on the ground that you don't have the facts ready. In fact, most
of the topics are such that you won't be having much factual knowledge about them. What the
examiner expects from you is not a plethora of facts, but a keen insight into the topic. Your sole criteria
behind choosing a particular topic should be your ability to think, link and come up with new ideas. So,
think before rejecting a particular topic. The topic on which you are giving up may be the best for you to
write upon! Take extreme care, for this could make a difference of a whopping 30 to 40 marks. Topic
selection should take a maximum of 10 minutes.

What all to Write: Brain storming is the key

Brainstorming is an important skill that you must acquire. It's a prerequisite to lateral thinking; i.e.
thinking of various things simultaneously. It promotes creativity and innovation. We human beings tend
to think sequentially. By doing so, we restrict our creativity. We must, therefore, aquire the art of
lateral, non-sequential thinking. First of all, this requires a good understanding of the topic. Dwell on the
topic that you have chosen and, till the time you grasp it fully. Get into the shoes of the examiner and
ask yourself why the particular topic has been given? Understand its context and concerns. Now, start
writing down any key words or phrases associated with the topic that come to your mind. Don't try to
channelise the flow of ideas. Let your thinking go wild. Jot down even the weirdest of ideas. Keep
thinking fast and don't get stuck-up anywhere. At this stage, don't classify or systematise your points.
Put them on paper randomly as they flow in. This exercise should take around 40-50 minutes.

Classification and Systema-tisation of Random Jottings

After you have generated sufficient number of ideas, start linking your random thoughts, classify them
in different groups. For instance, take the topic "Global Peace". After brainstorming and random jotting,
the points for example, could be classified under the following groups:
Threats to Global Peace
Meaning of Global Peace
Why peace is necessary?
What has been done?
India's role in Global Peace
Context (Recent Terrorist attacks worldwide)
What more needs to be done for sustainable peace etc.
Now, arrange the groups in an orderly fashion so that there is logical progression of ideas and each
paragraph is linked to the preceding and the following paragraphs, viz
Meaning of Global Peace
Why peace is necessary?
Threats to Global Peace
What has been done?
India's role in Global Peace
Context (Recent Terrorist attacks worldwide)
What more needs to be done for sustainable peace etc.
Having completed the most important exercise, you can set aside 2 hours for actual writing, for you not
only have to write, but also to revise your essay to check spelling and grammatical errors.

But, please hold on! You are yet to think over another extremely important part of the entire exercise,
i.e. the introductory and the concluding remarks. (Yes, concluding note also so that you must know the
direction in which you are taking your essay). It is like while rowing a boat you must know the
destination and also the direction of it, lest you will get swayed away by the stream.

Introductory Note

First impression often turns out to be the last. Give your essay a logical introduction. You can begin with
a question, quotation or an exclamatory remark. The introduction should arrest the examiner's
attention and give him a fair amount of idea about the essay's focus. The introduction should set the
pace and flag off the discussion. It should arouse the examiner's curiosity. It could be in the nature of a
definition, an explanation or a summary. For instance, you may consider the following introductory note
on "Global Ecological Imbalance" "In primitive societies man-man and man-nature interaction was
limited and man lived in perfect harmony with nature. But now with the ever expanding population,
rising consumerism and over exploitation of natural resources the population resource imbalance has
acquired global dimensions leading to ecological imbalances. "

Concluding Remark

All is well that ends well thus goes the saying. The concluding remark should be really powerful and
effective. It should give a sense of completion and leave the examiner satisfied. In fact, it can turn the
tables and make up for the deficiency in the body of the essay. Remember, conclusion is not the
summary of the essay. So, do not repeat your ideas. The conclusion should be visionary and futuristic. It
should bring the essay to its logical end. It could be in the form of a recommendation or suggestion. For
instance, you may consider the following concluding remark on "Global Ecological Imbalance""It is his
'development' and his 'poverty' which are two greatest polluters. We need to emphasise on renewable
resources, eco-friendly techniques and conservation of energy. It is still possible to keep our earth
green, and the sky blue but what we need is to acquire a new vision and rethinking that we are not
'polluters', 'predators', and 'consumers', but 'protectors' 'producers' and 'caretakers'."

Body Paragraphs

The body could be in the nature of an expansion of the introduction. The first body paragraph should
emerge seamlessly out of the introductory note. Thereafter, every subsequent paragraph should flow
out of the preceding one. The body should be complete in itself. It should cover all important angles and
dimensions. There should be prioritisation of topics. The focus should be more on analysis than on facts
and the facts that are presented should support the analysis. Clarity and precision must also be ensured.

Language of the Essay

Since ideas are expressed through language, it plays a vital role in an essay or for that matter in any
piece of writing. The language must be such that the examiner finds it crisp, smooth and easy-flowing.
Therefore, the language of the essay should be simple (and not simplistic) yet polished, powerful and
effective. Choice of words, diction, phrases, idioms etc. should be appropriate so that there is complete
clarity in meaning. Ideas and sentences must not be repeated. Language should be firm, authoritative
and assertive. And, overall, it should be pleasing and appropriate.

Presentation

Last but not the least, it is the presentation of your essay, writE-up or article which in the first instance
makes it attractive or unattractive, easy or painful reading. Your essay, therefore, must exude neatness,
legibility and visibility of your ideas, points or illustrations. You can underline certain vital points or
quotations to draw the examiners attention. Also, be careful about the punctuation marks. Always
remember, 200 marks is not too small to be neglected. It proves to be a big boost to place you in the
topper's list.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE: THE KEY TO SUCCESS
Shashank Atom, Honorary Editor, Competition Wizard; Chairman, Alternative Learning System Pvt Ltd.,
and formerly a Civil Servant, demystifies the interview process and deliberates upon all that is expected
of you as a candidate

Having cleared Mains, you are both delighted and frightened as to what the interview would be like!
What preparation will help you crack the interview and post a winning score? Speculations abound and
there seems no definite clue. You reel under confusion and grow further uncertain. Just don't worry.
That's something very natural. Hold your breath. Relax. Read on. You have nothing to lose and
everything to gain.

The object of this interview is to assess your personal suitability for a career in Public Service by a board
of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge your mental calibre. In broad terms
it is really an assessment of not only the intellectual qualities but also the social traits and interest in
current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness. Critical powers of
assimilation. Clear and logical exposition. Balance of judgement. Variety and depth of interest. Ability
for social cohesion and leadership. And intellectual and moral integrity.

Having pointed out the object of the interview it would certainly be pertinent to provide some hints
about facing the Board. I know, giving advise is easy, acting upon them is rather difficult. Remember,
interview is a test of personality which you build over the years, not over days or months. To me,
guiding for the interview is like guiding somebody to prepare for life. Obviously, there can be no short
cuts, at least I don't know of one. Remember again! There is no magic wand for success in life as also in
the interview. It''s the lifetime preparation that pays in the ultimate run.

You will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of your career. You'll be asked
questions on matters of general interest. The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross
examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation, intended to reveal your
mental qualities. It is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge which has
already been tested through the written examination. You are expected to have taken an intelligent
interest not only in your special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening
around you both within and outside the country. You are also expected to be aware of the modern
currents of thought and new discoveries which rouse the curiosity of every well educated youth.

What the Board members are looking for?

In this context, I am reminded of an anecdote from Shiv Khera's best-seller, You Can Win. "There was a
man who made a living selling balloons at a fair. He had all colours of balloons, including red, yellow,
blue, and green. Whenever business was slow, he would release a helium filled balloon into the air and
when the children saw it go up, they all wanted to buy one. They would come up to him, buy a balloon,
and his sales would go up again. He continued this process all day. One day he felt someone tugging at
his jacket. He turned around and saw a little boy who asked, "If you release a black balloon, would that
also fly?" Moved by the boy's concern, the man replied with empathy, "Son, it is not the colour of the
balloon, it is what is inside that makes it go up."

It is what is 'inside' that matters. The thing inside of us that makes us go up in life is our attitude. If we
can build a positive attitude towards life and anything that we do, it provides a solid foundation for
success. That is precisely what the country needs: Officers with the right attitude to take up the
challenge of nation building and fight the evils of corruption, poverty, ignorance, communalism,
casteism and nepotism. Today, great value is attached to upholding the fundamental premises of
democratic polity as secularism, social justice and human rights, upon which the survival and sustenance
of India as a nation rests.

What constitutes positive attitude?

People with a positive attitude are honest. Upright. Sincere. Hardworking. Committed. Enthusiastic.
Confident. Tolerant. Optimistic. Innovative. Patient. Humble. Generous. Courteous. Polite. Sensitive.
Open to ideas. Willing to own up mistakes. And learn from them. They do what they enjoy. And enjoy
what must be done. They have a clear vision of things to come.

There are no quick-fix methods of developing these qualities and traits. But they are the ones that lay
the foundation of a strong character and a powerful personality. And only conscious effort can help
build them. If you don''t have these, they will show up on your face. If you don't feel for the stand that
you take, the interviewers can smell. If you lack conviction they can sense. So, never pretend to know
what you don't. Never lie. Never be arrogant. Never get into arguments with the Board members. Never
appear casual. And never-ever lose your temper. They each carry a hundred negative marks!!

Remember! The Board members are people with tremendous experience. They would be at least double
your age. The amount of their experience is unfathomable. You just can't dodge them. The only key to
success is to be your natural self.

How do they test you?

In the preceeding paragraphs I tried outlining the basic traits that are likely to be probed in the
interview. Now one must think and anticipate as to how this probe is likely to be operationalised. The
process is analogous to what is called reverse engineering, where a finished product is disassembled
step-by-step in order to ascertain the process of assembly of the end product. During the interview, this
process is carried out on the basis of information available to the board members.

The basic source of the information available to them is the Mains application form filled in by you,
containing the details of your family background, domicile, subjects of study, academic performance,
institutions attended, awards won, hobbies, interests, extra-curricular activities, service preferences, job
experience etc. Remember to keep a copy of the form. If you haven't, try reconstructing. The personal
details furnished by you in the form, provide the initial stimulus to the interview. These also provide vital
clues to the personality traits they are looking for. Your past performance and record of career is
believed to be a reasonably good predictor of the future, though not the only one.


As I see it, the process of unveiling the personality traits is in four stages. The Board usually begins by
asking questions on what you would be most comfortable with, i.e. about yourself. Gradually they widen
the net and put questions relating to your special subjects of study. Further they test your higher
faculties of analysis and decision making by putting questions on matters of general interest, especially
current social, political and economic issues. Finally they pin you down by asking some critical questions
to test your balance of judgement and intellectual and moral integrity. All this while, the Board
continuously evaluates your personality and assesses your suitability to the job without you realising.

The initial moments are extremely crucial and could well steer the latter course of the interview. It is
absolutely imperative to remember your bio-data and know everything thoroughly well about yourself,
to be able to answer any question related to you with great ease. Any mistake or even hesitation here
could amount to a blunder. It would be viewed with great suspicion and guess what could happen
hereafter. Yes, you guessed it right! The interview could end even before it began! On your part, you can
ensure that this does not happen by being honest in filling up your bio-data. Every small detail counts!

Most candidates tend to cook-up their hobbies and interests at the last moment. It could prove to be a
blunder in situations such as: Your hobby is 'gardening' and you can't even recognise any of the indoor
plants there in the Board room! Your hobby is 'reading' but you never read anything except newspapers!
Your hobby is 'bird watching' and you can't name some common birds. And you can't even identify a
male sparrow! Your hobby is 'cooking' and you never cooked anything except Rice and Dal! OnE-day
Cricket is an area of interest and you don't know who started it! You play chess and you have to struggle
hard to explain what castling is all about!!

As for your academic background more emphasis is generally placed on your Honours and Masters level
subjects. For those pursuing their Doctorate, the topic of research will form a very important subject for
discussion. Questions may also be put on your optional papers in the Civil Services examination. You are
not expected to know everything under the sun or remember all that you learnt since your childhood.
The Board does not expect you to know the minute details of all that you studied so far but it does
surely expect you to have a broad understanding of the subjects studied. And a capacity to use the
knowledge so gained. So, just dont waste your time revising all the books. And more importantly don't
ever panic. The questions will usually be of applied nature. The contemporary issues, specially those
finding a mention in the Paper II of respective Optionals, are a good indicator of what may be needed to
be brushed up.

At times the board members may start quizzing and firing seemingly trivial questions and you may not
be given sufficient time to respond. Don't lose your calm. Don't Panic. They are trying to test your poise
and composure. Try to answer as many questions as possible and feel free to tell them that you don't
know the rest. Never commit the blunder of telling them that you are not supposed to know them all.
Remember, it carries a hundred negative marks! To explain the import of what I said, you must develop
a sense of judgement of what is relevant and what irrelevant. You could be asked some such questions
as : How many tremors were experienced during the Gujarat earthquake? What are the dimensions of
the Siachin glacier? Which are the polyandrous tribes of the Melanesian Islands? How do we delimit the
boundaries of the Indian Ocean? How many islands are there in India? And the like. If you can't answer a
hundred such questions, never mind, for you'll not lose even a single mark.

However, you must make sure that you don't cut a sorry figure when asked about the problem in
Kashmir, or Indo-Pak and Sino-Indian relations and the related developments, or the issue of religious
conversion, political instability, India's stand on CTBT and so on. Your inability to answer such questions
will be viewed as sheer negligence and insensitivity. You must keep abreast of all such issues and
developments in India and the world all through your preparation for the examination. After the Mains
you should make an exhaustive list of topics of current interest, specially the controversial ones, which
possibly could form a part of the final showdown- what I call as critical questions.

The critical questions are put mainly to those candidates who have carried themselves well through the
rest of the interview. The final score could swing by as much as 30 percent (or 90 marks) depending on
how well or how badly they have been answered. They could make or mar! These critical questions
could come to you, disguised either as too simple or too trivial ones. Normally they will be asked
towards the end of the interview. However, nothing prevents the Board from putting them to you in the
midst of the interview or even at the very beginning. You ought to sense them and maintain utmost care
in responding to them. Remember, they carry the maximum weight.

Some possible critical questions could be: Should a particular political party, using religious sentiments,
to rouse the feelings of the electorate, be banned? Can we combat corruption in public life? Should we
have reservation for backward classes in jobs? Why you want to be an IAS officer? There is a big fire and
a riot in two corners of the District where you are the District Magistrate. Where would you prefer to go
first ? Your minister asks you to do something off the record. Would you? These and many such other
questions, I repeat, are to test your balance of judgment, honesty, integrity and uprightness. There are
no readymade answers to these questions. Think over them! And let us know too.

The Civil Services examination is one of the toughest and its interview, the most rigorous of all
conducted in the country. And by people who have excelled in their respective fields. Before your
interview begins, each of the Board members would have read through your bio-data and have had a
mental image of your personality. If you prove to be better than what they had expected, it's your day. If
you don't. Never mind. The road to success does not end here...