IAS Mains Expected Changes 2013

IAS Prelims & Mains GS and Optional Lectures, Model Answers, and Notes at doorsteptutor.com.

Final IAS Mains 2013 changes and official notification are now available here.

Aim: To bring candidates opting for high scoring science subjects at par with those opting for humanities and languages as their optional papers in the main exam

Chairman informed media that “Change in Inevitable” The change in the UPSC mains paper may likly to be effective from year 2013. It must be noted that the changes in the prelims exam pattern have already been implemented in the year 2011. These changes in the pre exam was welcomed by almost all the students but the introduction of new syllabus in the form of CSAT led to disappointments in some sections of candidates. This introduction helped the sience and engineering students but humanities students had to bite the dust and adjust to the new conditions. Another section which was disappointed with the new CSAT pattern was the set of people who had already made several unseccessful attempts. Many of them skipped the exam looking to save the attempt.

This time UPSC is trying to make the playing field for everyone. There will be backlashes from the people who have written the exam under old pattern because of their difficulty to adjust. On the whole, the change is going to bring more equality, rationality and simplicity to the Civil Services (UPSC) Exams.

Why in 2013 Only and Not 2012?

Two successive committees Alagh committee and 2nd ARC have recommended the pattern change in clear terms. These reports are already out in public. Since there is very small time gap for the 2012 exam. Moreover, a high level panel has been set-up to finalize the details of new syllabus and pattern in December, 2012.

What Will be the Magnitude of Change?

The details of the subjects have not been finalized yet. The suggestion about removing of optional subjects date back to 2008 when second Administrative Reforms Committee presented its report. Second ARC had suggested that UPSC should only keep two compulsory GS papers and an essay paper for Mains Examination.

Current Mains pattern consists of 2 General Studies Papers and 4 optional subjects Papers (2 each) . These 6 papers constitute 1800 marks (300 by 6) . There is an Essay Paper and Personal Interview as well of 200 and 300 marks each. These all constitute 2300 Marks. There is also a qualifying paper in an Indian Language.

The estimates say that the pattern will be similar to the General Studies but the number of papers will be increased and every subject of GS will form a separate paper in new format. The table below will give you an idea of the new and old pattern of Mains Exam.

Table Supporting: What Will be the Magnitude of Change?
OLD PATTERN MAINS PAPERSNEW PATTERN MAINS PAPERSSTATUS
GENERAL STUDIES ICURRENT EVENTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCEChanged
GENERAL STUDIES IIINDIAN CULTURE & HISTORYChanged
FIRST OPTIONAL IGEOGRAPHY OF INDIAChanged
FIRST SUBJECT IIINDIAN ECONOMYChanged
SECOND OPTIONAL IGENERAL SCIENCEChanged
SECOND OPTIONAL IIINDIAN POLITY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSChanged
ESSAYESSAYSame
INDIAN LANGUAGEINDIAN LANGUAGESame
PERSONAL NTERVIEWPERSONAL INTERVIEWSame