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JPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus (Jharkhand)
The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) conducts the Combined Civil Services Examination in two successive stages: a Preliminary Examination followed by a Main Examination (written test and interview).
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination
This stage consists of two compulsory objective-type papers, each carrying 200 marks with a duration of 2 hours. The papers are available in both Hindi and English. There is no negative marking for wrong answers; however, if a candidate marks more than one option for any question, it will be treated as incorrect regardless of whether one of the chosen answers is right.
Both papers are qualifying in nature, and candidates are shortlisted for the Main Examination based on their combined total score across the two papers.
Stage 2 – Main Examination (Written + Interview)
The written component consists of 6 papers as outlined below:
Paper
Subject
Marks
Duration
Paper I
General Hindi & General English
100
3 Hours
Paper II
Language and Literature
150
3 Hours
Paper III
Social Sciences
200
3 Hours
Paper IV
Indian Constitution & Polity, Public Administration & Good Governance
200
3 Hours
Paper V
Indian Economy, Globalization & Sustainable Development
200
3 Hours
Paper VI
General Sciences, Environment & Technology Development
200
3 Hours
Shortlisting for the Interview is based on marks obtained in Papers II through VI (totaling 950 marks), subject to two conditions candidates must score at least 30 marks in Paper I, and must also meet the minimum aggregate qualifying marks prescribed for Papers II to VI.
The Interview carries 100 marks, with no minimum qualifying threshold required.
JPSC Preliminary Examination – Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination consists of two compulsory objective-type papers
General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II – each carrying 200 marks with a duration of 2 hours.
General Studies Paper I (200 Marks | 100 Questions × 2 Marks)
Candidates must attempt all 100 questions. The subject-wise breakdown is as follows:
Subject
Sub-topic
No. of Questions
(A) History of India
Ancient India
5
Medieval India
5
Modern India
5
(B) Geography of India
General Geography
3
Physical Geography
3
Economic Geography
2
Social & Demographic Geography
2
(C) Indian Polity & Governance
Constitution of India
4
Public Administration & Good Governance
4
Decentralization: Panchayats & Municipalities
2
(D) Economic & Sustainable Development
Basic Features of Indian Economy
4
Sustainable Development & Economic Issues
4
Economic Reforms & Globalization
2
(E) Science & Technology
General Science
6
Agriculture & Technology Development
6
Information & Communication Technology
3
(F) Jharkhand Specific Questions
History, Society, Culture & Heritage
10
(G) National & International Current Events
–
15
(H) Miscellaneous
Human Rights, Environment & Biodiversity, Urbanization, Sports, Disaster Management, Poverty & Unemployment, Awards, UN & International Agencies
15
Total
100
General Studies Paper II (200 Marks | 100 Questions × 2 Marks)
This paper also consists of 100 compulsory objective-type questions, each carrying 2 marks, to be completed within 2 hours.
JPSC Main Examination Syllabus
Paper I – General Hindi & General English (100 Marks | Qualifying – Minimum 30 Marks)
This is a composite qualifying paper with two equal segments of 50 marks each, set at matriculation level. It tests basic working knowledge of both languages.
General Hindi (50 Marks)
Essay (400 words) – 15 marks
Grammar – 15 marks
Sentence Construction – 10 marks
Précis Writing – 10 marks
General English (50 Marks)
Essay (400 words) – 15 marks
Grammar – 15 marks
Comprehension – 10 marks
Précis Writing -10 marks
Note: Marks from this paper are not counted toward the final merit list.
Paper II – Language & Literature (150 Marks)
Candidates choose one language and its literature from the following 15 options: Oriya, Bangali, Urdu, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Santhali, Panchpargania, Nagpuri, Mundari, Kurux, Kurmali, Khortha, Khadia, or Ho.
Paper III – Social Sciences (200 Marks)
This paper is divided into two equal sections -History and Geography – of 100 marks each. Each section has one compulsory objective question (10 questions × 2 marks = 20 marks) and four optional descriptive questions, of which candidates answer two (40 marks each).
Section A – History (100 Marks)
Ancient Period
Indus Valley Civilization origin, extent, and key features
Origin of the Aryans and Vedic literature society, economy, and religion
The Lichchavis and their republican system
Rise of the Magadhan Empire
The Mauryas empire, Kalinga War, Ashoka’s Dhamma, art and architecture
The Kushanas Kanishka’s reign, religious policy, art and culture
The Guptas language, literature, and artistic development
Harsha-Vardhan and his cultural contributions
The Cholas maritime activities, administration, art and architecture
Cultural achievements of the Pallavas
Medieval Period
Arab and Ghaznavid invasions of India
Delhi Sultanate reforms of Alauddin Khilji and policies of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Mongol invasion of India
Religious movements Sufism and the Bhakti Movement
Indo-Islamic culture architecture, Urdu and Hindi languages
The Mughals Battle of Panipat, Sher Shah Suri, Akbar’s administration and policies, Aurangzeb, Mughal art and economy
Rise of the Marathas Shivaji’s achievements and eventual decline
Modern Period
European settlements and the East India Company Battles of Plassey and Buxar, Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse
Resistance to colonial rule peasant and tribal revolts, Revolt of 1857
Social reform movements Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, and others
Muslim reform movements Wahabi and Aligarh movements
Women’s rights abolition of Sati, Widow Remarriage Act, female education
Land revenue systems Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari
Rise of nationalism Indian National Congress, Moderates and Extremists, Swadeshi, Home Rule, and Khilafat movements
Gandhi and mass politics Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements
Partition of India and its aftermath
Post-independence an integration of princely states, linguistic reorganization, Non-Alignment Policy, liberation of Bangladesh
History of Jharkhand
Adi-dharma (Sarana cult) of tribal communities
Concept of Sadan and the emergence of Nagpuria language
Tribal revolts and the nationalist struggle
Birsa Movement and Tana Bhagat Movement
Freedom movement in Jharkhand
Section B – Geography (100 Marks)
Physical Geography – General Principles
Origin and evolution of the Earth; Continental Drift Theory and plate tectonics; volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis
Rock types and their characteristics; landforms in fluvial, glacial, arid, and karst regions
Geomorphic processes and weathering, erosion, deposition, soil formation; landscape cycle theories of Davis and Penck
Atmospheric composition, structure, and stratification
Insolation, heat budget, temperature distribution, and temperature inversion
Air masses, fronts, tropical and temperate cyclones
Evaporation, condensation, types of clouds and rainfall
Climate classification (Koppen and Thornthwaite); greenhouse effect, global warming
Hydrological cycle; ocean temperature, salinity, waves, tides, currents, and ocean floor features
Physical and Human Geography of India
Relief, physiographic divisions, and drainage systems and Himalayan and Peninsular
Indian monsoon and mechanism, onset, and retreat; climatic types; Green Revolution and its crop impact
Natural vegetation and forest types, wildlife, conservation, and biosphere reserves
Soil types (ICAR classification), distribution, degradation, and conservation
Natural hazards and floods, droughts, cyclones, and landslides
Population and growth, distribution, density, age-sex ratio, rural-urban composition
Human settlements and types, urban morphology, and settlement challenges in India
Natural Resources of India – Development and Utilization
Land resources and agricultural land use and distribution of major crops (rice, wheat, cotton, jute, sugarcane, rubber, tea, coffee)
Water resources and irrigation, water scarcity, rainwater harvesting, watershed and groundwater management
Minerals and energy and metallic minerals (iron, copper, bauxite, manganese), conventional fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas), hydroelectricity, and non-conventional energy (solar, wind, biogas)
Industrial development and types of industries, location factors, distribution of key industries (iron & steel, textiles, sugar, petrochemicals); Weber’s theory of industrial location
Transport, communication, and trade and roads, railways, waterways; India’s foreign trade patterns
Geography of Jharkhand
Geological history, landforms, drainage, climate, soil, and forests
Agriculture, irrigation, Damodar and Subarnarekha valley projects; mineral resources
Population and growth, density, tribal distribution, tribal development issues, customs, and festivals
Industrial and urban development and iron, steel, cement, and cottage industries
Urban settlement patterns and pollution issues
Paper IV – Indian Constitution & Polity, Public Administration & Good Governance (200 Marks)
Each section carries 100 marks with one compulsory objective question (20 marks) and two descriptive optional questions (40 marks each).
Section A – Indian Constitution & Polity
Preamble and philosophy of a secular, democratic, and socialist republic
Salient features, basic structure, Public Interest Litigation
Fundamental Rights and Duties; Directive Principles of State Policy
Union Executive and President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, coalition governance
Union Legislature and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; law-making process; parliamentary committees and privileges
Union Judiciary and Supreme Court; judicial review and judicial activism; rule of law
State Executive and Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers
State Legislature and organization, powers, and functions with reference to Jharkhand
State Judiciary and High Court, subordinate judiciary
Panchayats and Municipalities and 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments
Centre-State relations and administrative, legislative, and financial
Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas administration
Reservation provisions for SC and ST in legislature and services
Emergency provisions; Comptroller and Auditor General; Election Commission
Political parties and pressure groups
Section B – Public Administration & Good Governance
Public administration meaning, scope, and importance; public vs. private administration
Union administration Central Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, PMO, Planning Commission, Finance Commission
State administration State Secretariat, Chief Secretary’s office
District administration role of District Magistrate and Collector; impact of separation of judiciary
Personnel administration and civil services recruitment, UPSC and State PSCs, training, leadership, morale
Delegation, centralization, and decentralization of authority
Bureaucracy and its origins, merits, demerits, policy role, and relationship with political executive
Development administration and disaster management and causes, classification, mitigation
Good governance and accountability, transparency, civil society participation, grievance redressal (Lokpal, Lokayukta, CVC)
Key legislation and RTI Act, Right to Service Act, Right to Education Act, Consumer Protection Act, Domestic Violence Act, Old Age Act
Human rights and UDHR, National and State Human Rights Commissions; human rights and terrorism
Paper V – Indian Economy, Globalization & Sustainable Development (200 Marks)
This paper has a compulsory objective section (40 marks – 20 questions × 2 marks) covering all groups, plus four descriptive optional questions (40 marks each), one from each group.
Group A – Basic Features of Indian Economy
National income and GDP, GNP, NDP, NNP, GSDP; methods of calculation
Inflation and concepts and monetary, fiscal, and direct control measures
Demographic features workforce, demographic dividend, National Population Policy (Census 2011)
Agriculture importance, productivity, Green Revolution, WTO, agricultural marketing and pricing
Industrial economy policy changes and initiatives
Public finance taxation types (direct, indirect, VAT), public expenditure, borrowings
Budget and types (performance-based, zero-based), FRMB
Fiscal policy and role in employment, stability, and growth
Centre-State fiscal relations; Finance Commission; 73rd and 74th Amendment implications
Monetary and banking system structure
India’s trade composition and balance of payments
Group B – Sustainable Development & Indian Development Strategy
Meaning and measurement of economic development; indicators HDI, GDI, GEM
Role of foreign capital and technology
Sustainable development Green GDP concept; economic, social, and environmental sustainability
Inclusive growth 11th and 12th Five Year Plan strategies
Development of marginalized sections ST, SC, minorities, women; TSP, SCSP schemes
Poverty and unemployment BPL identification, Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index
Food and nutritional security PDS, ICDS, Mid-Day Meal schemes; storage and distribution issues
Planning Five Year Plan objectives; NDC, Planning Commission
Decentralized planning PRIs and major initiatives
Group C – Economic Reforms & Their Impact
New Economic Reforms Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization (LPG)
Role and impact of IMF, World Bank, and WTO on India
Globalization’s impact on various sectors; FDI and FII issues
Agricultural reforms subsidies, public investment, agrarian crisis
Industrial development changes in industrial policy; SME challenges; public sector disinvestment
Group D – Economy of Jharkhand
Economic structure SDP, per capita NSDP, agricultural and industrial growth
Demographic features population, literacy, workforce, rural-urban composition (Census 2001 and 2011)
Poverty, unemployment, food security, and health indicators; key programs (MGNREGA, PMGSY, NRLM, Bharat Nirman, PURA)
Land and forest issues land reforms, tribal land alienation, displacement, Forest Rights Act
Five Year Plans in Jharkhand 10th and 11th Plan achievements; public finance trends; industrial policy
Paper VI – General Science, Environment & Technology Development (200 Marks)
This paper has a compulsory objective section (40 marks – 20 questions × 2 marks) and five descriptive optional questions (32 marks each), one from each group.
Group A – Physical Science
Units of measurement and MKS, CGS, SI systems
Basic concepts and speed, velocity, gravity, mass, force, work, power, energy
Solar system and Earth’s position, eclipses, movement of Earth and Moon
Sound and wavelength, frequency, infrasonic and ultrasonic sounds and their applications
Group B – Life Science
Cell structure and functions; diversity of organisms
Biomolecules carbohydrates, proteins, fats; vitamins, enzymes, plant and animal hormones
Cell reproduction cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis
Mendelian inheritance monohybrid and dihybrid cross, sex determination, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis
Theories of evolution including human evolution
Group C – Agriculture Science
Agro-climatic zones of Jharkhand rainfall patterns and abiotic stresses
Rain-fed agriculture and crops, diversification needs, rainwater harvesting, fish farming
