Detailed Test Calendar for ASCEND-2023

NO.

DATE

TEST NAME

SYLLABUS

1

11/06/23

Sectional Test-1 (GS 1)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 1: Art & Culture: Indian culture will cover the

salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and

Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Topic 2: Modern History: Modern Indian history

from about the middle of the eighteenth century

until the present- significant events, personalities,

issues. Freedom Struggle — its various stages

and important contributors/contributions from

different parts of the country.

Topic 3: Post-Independence: Post-independence

consolidation and reorganization within the

country.

Topic 4: World History: History of the world will

include events from 18th century such as

industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of

national boundaries, colonization, decolonization,

political philosophies like communism, capitalism,

socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the

society.

2

18/06/23

Sectional Test-2 (GS 1)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 5: Indian Society: Salient features of Indian

Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and

women's organization, population and associated.

issues, poverty, and developmental issues,

urbanization, their problems, and their remedies.

Topic 6: Effects of globalization on Indian society.

Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism

& secularism.

Topic 7: Physical Geography: Salient features of

world's physical geography.

Topic 8: Human and Economic Geography:

Distribution of key natural resources across the

world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

Topic 9: Geophysical Phenomena: Important

Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes,

Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,

geographical features and their location-changes

in critical geographical features (including waterbodies and icecaps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

3

25/06/23

Sectional Test-3 (GS 3)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 1: Indian Economy and issues relating to

planning, mobilization, of resources, growth,

development and employment.

Topic 2: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

Topic 3: Government Budgeting

Topic 4: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Topic 5: Issues related to direct and indirect farming; 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.

Topic 6: Food processing and related industries in

India- scope' and significance, location, upstream

and downstream requirements, supply chain

management.

Topic 7: Land reforms in India

Topic 8: Effects of liberalization on the economy,

changes in industrial policy and their effects on

industrial growth

Topic 9: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Topic 10: Investment models

4

02/07/23

Sectional Test-4 (GS 3)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 11: Science and Technology- developments

and their applications and effects in everyday life

Topic 12: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Topic 13: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Topic 14: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Topic 15: Disaster and disaster management

Topic 16: Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

Topic 17: Role of external state and non-state

actors in creating challenges to internal security.

Topic 18: Challenges to internal security through

communication networks, role of media and social

networking sites in internal security challenges,

basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its

prevention

Topic 19: Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism

Topic 20: Various Security forces and agencies and

their mandate

5

09/07/23

Sectional Test-5 (GS 2)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 1: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions and basic structure.

Topic 2: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.

Topic 3: Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Topic 4: Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

Topic 5: Parliament and State legislatures structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

Topic 6: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

Topic 7: Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.

Topic 8: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Topic 9: Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies.

6

16/07/23

Sectional Test-6 (GS 2)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 10: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Topic 11: Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

Topic 12: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Topic 13: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Topic 14: Issues relating to poverty and hunger. Topic 15: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures.

Topic 16: Role of civil services in a democracy. Topic 17: India and its neighborhood- relations. Topic 18: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Topic 19: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.

Topic 20: Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate.

7

23/07/23

Sectional Test-7 (GS 4)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 1: Ethics and Human Interface: Essence,

determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions, Dimensions of ethics, Ethics in private and public relationships, Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators, Role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values.

Topic 2: Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

Topic 3: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections

Topic 4: Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

Case Studies on above issues

8

30/07/23

Sectional Test-8 (GS 4)

(20 Questions /

3 Hour / 250

Marks)

Topic 5: Contribution of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers: Western & Indian.

Topic 6: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in

Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations, and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance.

Topic 7: Probity in Governance: Concept of public

service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

Topic 8: Case Studies on above issues.

9

06/08/23

Test 9 - GS 1

FULL LENGTH TEST

10

13/08/23

Test 10 - GS 2

FULL LENGTH TEST

11

20/08/23

Test 11 - GS 3

FULL LENGTH TEST

12

27/08/23

Test 12 - GS 4

FULL LENGTH TEST