CSAT 2011 Syllabus awaited after Preliminary Exam Replaced with Aptitude Test

Government has given a nod to the replacement of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination with the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). This would be implemented from the 2011 entrance exams session.

The candidates will have to now sit for two compulsory papers that will cover subjects like Indian polity, governance and communication skills.

Subjects in Paper I include current events of national and international importance, history of India and Indian national movement, Indian and World geography — physical, social, economic geography of India and the world. It will also cover Indian Polity and governance, Constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, Rights issues, etc.

Economic and social development, sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives etc and general issues on environment, bio- diversity and climate change — that do not require subject specialization — would also be included in Paper I.

Paper- II will have subjects like general science, interpersonal skills, including communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision making and problem solving, general mental ability, basic numeric ( numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc. ( Class level).

Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc Class level), English language Comprehension skills ( Class level) will also be included in Paper II.

Earlier, candidates could have chosen one of the optional subjects out of 23 optional for Paper- I of the Prelims which is now replaced with common paper on aptitude test.