Even though, on careful analysis it can be further subdivided into so many sub categories like Ecology and Environment, Genetics Agricultural sector, National Policy matters, Art and Culture, General Knowledge, Awards and Honours, Important days, Statistics, Reasoning etc. based on the weightage* of questions. But technically speaking all these comes under the prescribed subjects. For the purpose of convenience it is better to break it as Current Affairs, General Science, History of India including, Indian National Movement, Indian geography and World Geography, Economics, Indian Polity.

Questions from chemistry ranges between 3-8. Only three questions were asked from chemistry in 2005. But at least five questions can be expected from this section. Usually the weightage* is given for Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. Out of these sections periodic properties, physical and chemical properties of inorganic elements and their chief compounds, main ores, their common name, chemical formula, constituents. Major compounds of chemicals, its industrial, medicinal and other uses etc needs special attention.

Human systems and diseases, nutrition, genetics etc. So special focus is to be attributed* while studying human systems. Moreover the epidemics and other diseases which prevails* is recent times should be given special attention.

E.g.: The symptoms of Dengue fever was asked in last preliminary (2005)

Similarly Bird flu is currently is prevalence so you must go through the details of the disease. - Name of the virus, host of infection, possibility of communicability* to human beings, name of vaccines if available, General symptoms etc. should be given due importance. (Details of Bird flu is available in icstackler.com)

Some of the previous questions asked from these sections

• Which of the following disease of milching* animals are infections (Pre.2005)
• Pneumoconiosis affects the workers who work mainly in (Pre. 2005)
• Cholera is a disease caused by bacteria
• Athletes foot is a disease caused by virus (find the correct statement) (Pre. 2004)

Questions from human systems included

Assertion (A) and Reasoning(R) type

• All the proteins in our food are digested in small intestine only (A)
• The portion digesting enzymes from the pancreas are released into small intestine. (Digestive system) (Pre. 2005) (R)
• A person with Diabetes insipidus feels thirsty (A)
• A person with Diabetes suffers from excess secretion of vasopressin (R)

(Endocrine system) (Pre 2005)

• The hormone Insulin is a
  a) Glyco lipid (b) Fatty Acid (c) Peptide (d) Sterol

(Endocrine system) (Pre 2005)
Questions from nutrition included.

Consider the following sentence,

1. Non functioning of lachrymal gland is an important symptom of deficiency of Vitamin. A
2. Deficiency of vitamin B can lead to indigestion and heart enlargement
3. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to pain in the muscles.
4. Deficiency of vitamin D causes increased loss of Ca++ ions in urine

Which of the following statements are correct? (Pre. 2004)

*Examples are mentioned to provide an outline to understand the important areas in Biology while preparing the Civil Service Examination. For more details and notes refer the page on biology.

Questions pertaining to Botany are comparatively less. The focus areas are biological diversity, agriculture plant pathology and plant system.

Recent advances in the field of science and technology like genetic engineering, stem cell research, developments in India in the field of science and technology, Indian space programmes, Indian Missile Programmes, Nobel prize winners and their recognized scientific works etc needs special attention.

Eg. Amit wishes to buy a magazine. Four magazines one each on politics, sports, science and films are available to choose from. They are edited by Feroz, Gurbaksh, Swami, and Ila (not nessarily in that order ) and published by Aryan, Bharat, Charan and Dev.Publishers (not. Necessarily in order) Further it is given that.

(i) Dev publishers have published the magazine edited by Feroz.
(ii) The magazine on politics is published by Aryan publishers.
(iii) The magazine on films is edited by swami and is not published by Charan publishers.
(iv) Magazine on science is edited by Ila.
For the following four items, select the correct answer.

Q: 1 The magazine on science is published by
a) Aryan pub. (b) Bharat pub. (c) Charan pub (d) Dev. Pub.
Q:2 The magazine on sports is
a) Edited by Feroz
b) Edited by Gurubaksh
c) Published by bharat publishers
d) Published by Charan publishers
Q:3 Magazine on films is
a) Published by Dev Publishers
b) Published by Bharat publishers
c) Edited by Gurbaksh
d) Published by charan publishers

Solution

Some questions is mental ability can be answered using concepts from physics. Eg. Concept of relative velocity.

Questions preliminary 2005

Aryan runs at a speed of 40m/minute. Rahul follows him after an interval of 5 minutes at a speed 50m/minute. Rahul’s dog runs at a speed of 60m/minute,and starts along with Rahul. The dog reaches Aryan and then comes back to Rahul, and continues to do so till Rahul reaches Aryan .what is the distance covered by the dog.

a) 600m (b)750m (c) 1200m (d)980m

Solution:

Aryan 40m/minutes.
Rahul 50m/min. Runs after 5 minutes.
ie. relative speed of Rahul = 50-40 = 10m/min.

Now as per concept of relative speed Rahul is running at a speed of 10 m/min. towards Aryan who is standing still.

During the interval of 5 minutes Aryan covered 40mx5 = 200m.
So Rahul 10m/min should cover 200 m to meet Aryan.
Time taken to meet = 200/10 minutes i.e. 20 min

The speed of dog = 600m/min.

20 min. is the time taken by Rahul to reach Aryan. The dog goes on running for a period of 20 minutes.

So total distance covered by the dog is 60 x 20.= 1200 mts.

Now find the no. of forward and backward journeys made by the dog during the period. Send your answers with explanation to test @ icstackler.com. Or go to page contact us post the answer in message box with a heading MAPQ2 ANS. And submit.

For tackling such questions you should be exposed to a wide variety of problems and it’s short cut methods. Then you can solve them just by looking at the question.

See also short cut to problems

For detailed short cut approaches on variety of problems in mental ability, physics and chemistry subscribe to www.icstackler.com.

In 2005 preliminary nine questions were asked from this section.12-15 questions can be expected on an average.

Majority of the questions asked from this section are direct questions,which can be answered by following standard text books.

Questions pertaining to the current constitutional developments are frequently asked. Other significant areas include Amendments, Federalism, Election, Parliament etc.

Recent constitutional developments should be given due importance during studies.

See the section on Indian Polity

(*ICS tackler.com has dedicated a separate section for national policy matters in addition to a section on economy).

** Even though the descriptions displayed are brief On subscription you will receive all relevant informations from this section.

Similarly questions like: “which of the following countries doesn’t share border with county ‘x’” is seen in 2004 and 2005 Preliminaries consecutively. Questions about the world languages, old names of countries etc. were also asked.

Question asked in geography section also include certain topics which were in recent focus. Even though in technical aspect such questions come under geography. They can be expected and tackled, if due importance is given to such hot topics in news. And this alone is the easy strategy for dealing such questions.

Eg.:

• Silent Valley National Park is Nallamalai range
• Pathrakkadavu Hydroelectric Project is proposed to be built near Silent Valley National Park.
• The Kunthi river originates in Silent Valley’s rainforests.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct.(Pre:2005)
1 and 3 (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3

Technically speaking the question is from Indian Geography. What strategy can you evolve for tackling such questions. Do you think it is easier to study about all the rivers, in India , its origin, name of the forest range in which they originate, proposed and existing projects in the forest ranges ,or focusing all aspects of hot topics concerned with ecology and environment.

Silent valley National Park and the proposed Pathrakkadavu Project turned a focus point recently due to the objections raised by environmentalists against the project. Consequently exhaustive details were published in the media regarding Silent Valley National Park.,Pathrakadavu project.etc. That was why the question was asked although in a different pattern.

Similarly Satara region also captured news attention recently,owing to the objection raised by the local inhabitants *against Asia’s largest wind mill park (In Maharastra) they alleged the huge fan blades of wind mills blowing away the rain clouds.

So the Civil Service Examination aspirates should also to focus their attention in various aspects of current affairs like, geographical aspect economic aspect etc.

ICS tackler.com has dedicated a seperate section for Geography. There is illustrated descriptions about Indian World Geography.

Indian National Movement is the focus area in History section. Early uprisings against British rule like Santhal rebellion, should be thoroughly reviewed. Tribal uprisings, peasant** uprisings etc. should be analyzed.

Some of the questions pertain to current* constitutional developments. Other significant areas include Amendments, Federalism, Election and Parliament. Recent constitutional developments should be given due importance during the course of study.

See the section on Indian Polity.