1. Analysis
  2. How to approach IFoS-Mains-2015
  3. 2014 IFoS Mains GK Question paper:
    1. History Questions (50m)
    2. Economy Questions (50m)
    3. Environment Questions (50m)
    4. Polity Questions (50m)
    5. IR/Diplomacy Questions (50m)
    6. Science tech/ IT awareness Questions (50m)

Analysis of IFoS Mains GK paper

IFoS Mains GK Paper 2014

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IFoS Mains General Knowledge Paper
2013 paper 2014
Each question worth 8 marks. 12.5 marks
40 marks each from History, polity, environment cum geography. 50 each from those section
Person in news question asked Not asked.
Polity had mix of theory + current e.g. SC guidelines on acid attacks. 3 polity qs. from theory and 1 from current (min gov.max.gov)
unusual topics like TRP rating in India, breaking news,  spot fixing Not asked. This year pretty straight forward paper.
few questions from budget & economic survey same

How to approach IFoS-Mains-2015

  1. History-Culture any one of the following combo
    1. Tamilnadu Class 11-12 history books +Spectrum
    2. Old NCERT + Spectrum
    3. General Studies Manual
  2. Geography / Environment:
    1. For Theory: (NIOS + NCERTs)
    2. For Current: newspapers.
  3. Polity: M. Laxmikanth for theory + Hindu / Indian express for current affairs
  4. Economy, Budget, Survey, Schemes: yours unfaithfully Mrunal.org/economy
  5. IR/Diplomacy:
    1. For Theory: NIOS Political science or IGNOU PDFs.
    2. For Current: Newspaper + yours unfaithfully Mrunal.org/diplomacy + google because not all IR-bodies covered in theory-books.
  6. Science-Tech: Theory/contemporary: selected google e.g. Nanotech, cryo-tech + current from newspapers.
  7. PIN, Sports, books-awards: should be prepared from magazines & newspapers. Because trend in single exam =insufficient to presume that it won’t be asked in in 2015, given UPSC’s double-bluff back-breakingTM move shown in CSAT-2014.
  8. Self-Notes making and minimum 3 times revision is essential. Otherwise hard to recall points in the exam. Then even in easy questions like Champaran & Chola-art, you’ll end up writing average quality answers.
  9. Newspaper means Hindu / Indianexpress ONLY. Don’t need both. Any one would suffice for IfoS.

2014 Question paper Instructions

  1. Time Allowed: Three Hours  (Maximum Marks : 300)
  2. Each question worth 12.5 marks.
  3. No alternate options given. All questions compulsory.
  4. Attempt of a part/question shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a part/question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page
  5. Left blank in the Question cum Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
  6. Answers must be written in ENGLISH only.

History Questions (50m)

  1. How did Buddhism influence Asoka in decision making and governance?
  2. Discuss the efforts and strategy of Akbar towards social harmony.
  3. Describe the salient features of Chola art.
  4. Assess the importance of Champaran Satyagraha.

Economy Questions (50m)

  1. Discuss the objectives of Prime Minister’s Jan-Dhan Yojana. What challenges do you foresee in its implementation? #Mrunal-Article
  2. What are the reasons for persistent high rate of food inflation in India? #Mrunal-Article
  3. Explain demographic dividend and its relevance to India. #Mrunal-Article
  4. Discuss the recommendations of Rangarajan Panel on the estimates of poverty in India. #Mrunal-Article

Environment Questions (50m)

  1. What do you understand by Environmental Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment?
  2. Discuss the causes of the recent devastating floods in Jammu and Kashmir. How do they compare with those of Uttarakhand disaster last year?
  3. What do you understand by soil erosion Discuss its causes.
  4. What are wet-lands? Discuss their importance.

Polity Questions (50m)

3 out 4 questions can be solved from Indian Policy by M.Laxmikanth

  1. How is the federal, structure of the Indian Constitution ensured?
  2. Explain the Right of Constitutional Remedies given in the Indian Constitution.
  3. How is a Money Bill different than a Financial Bill?
  4. What do you understand by `minimum government and maximum governance’?

IR/Diplomacy Questions (50m)

  1. Comment on Israel-Palestinian conflict. #Mrunal-Article
  2. Write a note on Indo-Japanese collaboration. #Mrunal-Article
  3. Discuss the role of UNHRC in Indian perspective.
  4. What are the objectives of European Union?

Science tech/ IT awareness Questions (50m)

  1. Comment on ‘Digital India Programme’. #Mrunal-Article
  2. How is Indian mission of Mars different than that of other countries in recent times? #Mrunal-Article
  3. What do you understand by Nano technology? How is it critical in context with food industry?
  4. How is Cryogenics different from Cryonics?