Lesson 1 of 1 | Scheme of the written examination / Four descriptive papers
The four written papers
Learning outcome
You can name the four descriptive papers of the Main examination and keep them separate from the Preliminary paper.
Concepts and why
The Main examination is the written examination. It is descriptive. A candidate takes all four papers.
General Studies I covers history of Rajasthan, India and the modern world; the economy of India, the world and Rajasthan; and sociology, management, accounting and auditing.
General Studies II covers administrative ethics; general science and technology; and earth science of the world, India and Rajasthan.
General Studies III covers Indian polity and governance; public administration; and behaviour and law.
The fourth paper is General Hindi and General English. The standard is senior secondary. The essay is written in Hindi or English. The six themes are language and culture, society and governance, science and environment, the economy, current affairs, and tourism and culture with reference to Rajasthan.
The Preliminary examination is a different exam. It is one objective paper. It is not one of these four papers.
Worked examples
Asked which paper includes administrative ethics. The answer is General Studies II. Asked which paper includes the essay. The answer is General Hindi and General English. Asked whether the Preliminary paper is General Studies I. The answer is no. The Preliminary examination is separate.
Common mistakes
Calling the Main examination one paper. Putting ethics on General Studies I. Treating the Preliminary paper as General Studies I.
Practice questions
- How many written papers are there in the Main examination?
- Which paper includes administrative ethics?
- In which languages may the essay be written?
Answers and explanation
- Four.
- General Studies II.
- Hindi or English.
Analogy
A house has a front gate and four rooms. The Preliminary examination is the gate. The Main examination is the four rooms. Ethics lives in the second room. The essay lives in the fourth room. Walking into the wrong room is the mistake.
Quick reference
Four descriptive papers. I: history, economy, sociology, management, accounting and auditing. II: ethics, science and technology, earth science. III: polity and governance, public administration, behaviour and law. IV: General Hindi and General English, with an essay in Hindi or English. Senior-secondary standard for Hindi and English.