India Since Independence: Bipin Chandra

In this post we will be looking at what are some of the chapters that are relevant for UPSC mains from the book listed above. This is unlike conventional book reviews where emphasis is on assessing the whole book and summarizing its content. The need to reduce the number of pages to read or number of books to refer is a common demand for student preparing for civil service examination. This is true specially in case of students looking forward to appear for mains in the immediate future. The dilemma to balance endless sources of study material and limited time is a difficult one to manage.

India since Independence is a well written book with impartial evaluation of significant events in the post independent India. The book is divided into 41 chapters spread out in 770 pages. So out here I will list the respective chapters from the book and interlink it with the topics mentioned in the syllabus that it can be helpful for. 

No.	Chapter  Title	UPSC Syllabus
4 5	§  The Evolution of Constitution and main features §  The Architecture of the Constitution: Basic Features and Institutions	Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
7 8 9 10	§  Consolidation of India As a Nation §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: The Linguistic Reorganization of the States §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: Integration of the Tribals §  Consolidation of India As a Nation: Regionalism and Regional Inequality	Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
12	§  Foreign Policy: The Nehru Era	India and its neighbourhood- relations.
25 26 27 28	§  Indian Economy, 1947-1965: the Nehruvian Legacy §  Indian Economy, 1965-1991 §  Economic Reforms Since 1991 §  The Indian Economy in the New Millennium	Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
29 30 31 32	§  Land Reform: Colonial impact and legacy of the national and peasant movements §  Land Reforms: Zamindari Abolition and Tenancy Reforms §  Land Reforms : Ceiling and the Bhoodan Movement §  Land Reforms: Cooperatives and an Overview	Land reforms in India.
33 34	§  Agriculture Growth and the Green Revolution §  Agrarian Struggles Since Independence	Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
35	§  Revival and Growth of Communalism	Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
37	§  Caste, Untouchability, Anti-caste Politics and Strategies	Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
38	§  Indian Women Since Independence	Role of women and women’s organization,

This is in case of a strategic approach to preparation for students with shortage of time, otherwise the ideal suggestion would be to read the book from cover to cover.

 

How important is the Interview test?

While filling in the application form for the Civil Services Preliminary and Main examination, candidates are also asked to fill in their preferences for their appointment in various services once they qualify.

According to statistical results, people who score more than 60% enjoy a huge possibility getting into the service of their own choice, once they qualify in the interview.

About 90% of the candidates, who qualify for the interview, score around the range of 55%. If you are able to score more than 58%, it is quite likely that you would be appointed in a Class I service.

Confidence, self-assurance, tact and diplomacy play a key role for a successful interview test. The selectors in the interview panel analyse the thought process of the candidates and their ability and presence of mind to tackle tricky questions with diplomacy, without provoking controversies or attacking a particular section of a society with prejudice or racist remarks.

Candidates can score well in the interview if they keep themselves updated about the core socio-economic issues, foreign relations and current affairs of our country and converse about the relevant issues with clarity of expression.

Rules for choosing optional subjects for the Main examination

A candidate is eligible to choose an optional subject that he has not studied during the graduation or post graduation level. In addition, candidates can write the exam in English or any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth schedule of the Indian constitution.

However, a student cannot write different papers of the Civil Services Main Examination in different languages.

Candidates are required to choose two optional subjects of their choice for the main examination. However, the following combinations of optional subjects are not allowed.

1. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science.
2. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Science.
3. Anthropology and Sociology.
4. Commerce & Accountancy and Management.
5. Management and Public Administration.
6. Mathematics and Statistics.
7. Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering – not more than one subject.
8. Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration.
9. Two literature subjects cannot be opted together. Only one of them can be chosen.

Besides, the candidate can also opt for taking the interview in the same national language that he has chosen to write in the Main examination.