SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
SECTION-I
The examination shall be conducted according to the following plan—
Part I-Written examination carrying a maximum of 1000 marks in the subjects as shown below.
Part II-Viva voce of such candidates as may be called by the Commission carrying a maximum of 200 marks.
PART-I
1.The subjects of the written examination under Part-I, the maximum marks allotted to each subject/paper and the time allowed shall be as follows :
A. Indian Economic Service
Sl. Subject Maximum Marks Allowed Time No.
1. General English 100 3 hrs.
2. General Studies 100 3 hrs.
3. General Economics-I 200 3 hrs.
4. General Economics-II 200 3 hrs.
5. General Economics-III 200 3 hrs.
6. Indian Economics 200 3 hrs.
Note-1: The papers on General English and General Studies, common to both Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service will be of subjective type.
Note-2: All other papers of Indian Economic Service will be of subjective type.
2. The question papers in all subjects in Indian Economic Service Examination will be of Conventional (essay) type.
3. ALL QUESTION PAPERS MUST BE ANSWERED IN ENGLISH; QUESTION PAPERS WILL BE SET IN ENGLISH ONLY.
4.1 Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the categories of blindness, locomotor disability (both arms affected–BA) and cerebral palsy will be eligible for the facility of scribe. In case of other category of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as defined under section 2(r) of the RPWD Act, 2016, such candidates will be eligible for the facility of scribe on production of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical limitation to write, and scribe is essential to write examination on behalf,
from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a Government Health Care institution as per proforma at Appendix–V.
Further, for persons with specified disabilities covered under the definition of Section 2(s) of the RPwD Act, 2016 but not covered under the definition of Section 2(r) of the said Act, i.e. persons having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing will be eligible for the facility of scribe subject to production of a certificate to the effect that person concerned has limitation to write and that scribe is essential to write examination on his/her behalf from the competent
medical authority of a Government healthcare institution as per proforma at Appendix-VII
4.2 The candidates have discretion of opting for his/her own scribe or request the Commission for the same. The details of scribe i.e. whether own or the Commission’s and the details of scribe in case candidates are bringing their own scribe, will be sought at the time of filling up the application form online as per proforma at Appendix-VI (for Candidates having 40% disability or more) and Appendix-VIII (for Candidates having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing).
4.3 The qualification of the Commission’s scribe as well as own scribe will not be more than the minimum qualification criteria of the examination. However, the qualification of the scribe should always be matriculate or above
4.4 The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arms affected – BA) and cerebral palsy will be eligible for Compensatory Time of twenty minutes per hour of the examination. In case of other categories of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, such candidates will be eligible for this facility on production of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical limitation to write from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a Government Health Care institution as per proforma at Appendix–V.
Further, for persons with specified disabilities covered under the definition of Section 2(s) of the RPwD Act, 2016 but not covered under the definition of Section 2(r) of the said Act, i.e. persons having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing will be eligible for compensatory time subject to production of a certificate to the effect that person concerned has limitation to write from the competent medical authority of a Government healthcare institution as per proforma at Appendix-VII.
4.5 Facility of Scribe and/or Compensatory time to eligible candidates will be provided, if desired by them
Note (1): The eligibility conditions of a scribe and his/her conduct inside the examination hall and the manner in which and extent to which he/she can help the eligible candidate (as defined above) in writing the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard. Violation of all or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the candidate in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.
Note (2) : The criteria for determining the percentage of visual impairment shall be as follows:—
Note (3): The concession admissible to blind/low vision candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from Myopia.
5. The Commission have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.
6. If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account, from the total marks otherwise accruing to him/her.
7. Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.
8. Credit will be given for orderly effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words.
9. In the question papers, wherever required, SI Units will be used.
10. Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) Calculators in Descriptive Type Papers at the examination. Programmable type calculators
will, however, not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not permitted. However, no calculator will be allowed in the Objective Type Papers at the examination.
11. Candidates should use only International Form of Indian numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc.) while answering question papers.
PART – II
Viva voice—The candidate will be interviewed by a Board of competent and unbiased observers who will have before them a record of his/her career. The object of the interview is to assess his/her suitability for the service for which he/she has competed. The interview is intended to supplement the written examination for testing the general and specialised knowledge and abilities for the candidate. The candidate will be expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in his/her subjects of academic study but also in events which are happening around him/her both within and outside his/her own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.
The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination, but of a natural, through directed and purposive conversation intended to reveal the candidate’s
mental qualities and his/her grasp of problems. The Board will pay special attention to assess the intellectual curiosity, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment and alertness of mind, the ability for social cohesion, integrity of character initiative and capacity for leadership.