COMBINED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES EXAMINATION – 2023 (CASE – 2023)
DIRECT RECRUITMENT OF “SECTION OFFICER (GEN/F&A/S&P)” AND “ASSISTANT SECTION OFFICER (GEN/F&A/S&P)”
ADVERTISEMENT NO: E-I/RC/2023/1
TOTAL NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 444
Tentative Date of Stage I Examination: February, 2024
Tentative Date of Stage II Examination: Will be Notified on CSIR Website
Issue of Admit Card / Call letter to the valid registered candidates: Will be Notified on CSIR Website
Scheme of Examination
Paper Subject Max. Marks Time
Paper – I General Awareness and English Language and Comprehension 150
Marks
02:00 Hours
(120 Minutes)
General Awareness
(100 Objective Type Questions of one mark each with negative marking @
0.33 marks for every wrong answer.)
English Language and Comprehension
English Language & Comprehension
(50 Objective Type Questions of one mark each with negative marking @
0.33 marks for every wrong answer.)
Paper – II General Intelligence, Reasoning and Mental Ability
(200 Objective Type Questions of one mark each with negative marking @
0.33 marks for every wrong answer.)
200 02:30 Hours
(150 Minutes)
Paper - III English/Hindi – Descriptive Paper
Essay, Precis and Letter/Application Writing
150 02 Hours
(120 Minutes)
Interview Interview carrying 100 marks for the post of Section Officer (Gen/F&A/S&P) only.
CPT Computer Proficiency Test carrying 100 marks for the posts of Assistant Section Officer (Gen/F&A/S&P) only.
CPT is Qualifying in nature.
Paper– I, Paper- II and Paper- III will be common and compulsory for all the posts.
All the papers will be bilingual (English & Hindi) except English Language Part of Paper – I which will be in English only.
Minimum threshold marks, wherever prescribed/required, will be decided by the Competent Authority.
For the post of Section Officer (Gen/F&A/S&P) only :-
(i) Candidates who secure the minimum threshold marks in aggregate out of 350 marks (Paper – I and Paper
– II) will be called for Paper-III (Descriptive Paper).
(ii) Candidates who secure the minimum threshold marks in Paper– I, Paper- II and Paper- III in aggregate
out of 500 marks will be called for Interview. Interview carries 100 marks.
(iii) The total marks for the post of Section Officer (Gen/F&A/S&P) will be 600.
(iv) Final Select/Wait List will be prepared keeping in view the number of vacancies and total marks obtained
by the candidates, subject to securing the minimum threshold marks.
Paper – I
General Awareness
(i) History of India & Indian National Movement
Sources of Indian History, The Harappan Civilization, The Mauryan, The Vedic, Post Mauryan period (200 BC-300 AD), Gupta
& Post - Gupta period: Society, Economy & Polity, Chronology of Events in Medieval India, North India between 750-1200,
The Sultans of Delhi, The Mughal Kings, The Marathas, The Saints of Medieval India, Indian in the Eighteenth Century, Rise of
the Regional Powers, economic Impact of The British, Indian Renaissance and Reform Movement, Early Uprisings Against The
British, The Revolt of 1857, Nature and Causes For The Rise of National Movement, The Rise of Neo-Nationalists or Extremists,
The Beginning of the Gandhian Era.
(i) Constitution of India, Polity, Governance, Social Justice
Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and
basic structure
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
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and
issues arising out of these
Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional
Bodies
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
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
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
Health, Education, Human Resources
Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models,
successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and
other measures
Issues relating to poverty and hunger
(iii) Current event of National and International importance
National - National Issues, Indian Economy, Indian Polity, Judiciary, Environment, Science and Technology, States, Social
Schemes, Sports News, Reports, Committee and Commission, Awards and Honours, Accident and calamities, First in India.
International -Important Summits & Events, International Awards, First in the world, International leadership, International
Reports, International committees and recommendations, Geographical event around the world.
English Language &Comprehension :
Comprehension, do as directed (Active-Passive; Direct-Indirect etc.), Prepositions, fill in the blanks, synonyms, antonyms,
sentence correction, common errors, punctuation, idioms & phrases etc.
Paper – II
(i) General Intelligence & Reasoning and Mental Ability :
General Intelligence & Reasoning: It would include questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. The test will include
questions on analogies, similarities and differences, space visualization, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision
making, visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure
classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series etc. The test will also include questions designed to test the
candidate’s abilities to deal with abstract ideas and symbols and their relationship, arithmetical computation and other
analytical functions.
General Mental Ability : Analogy, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood relations, Direction Sense Test, Logical Venn
Diagrams, Alphabet Test, Sitting Arrangements, Mathematical Operations, Arithmetical Reasoning, Inserting the Missing
Character, Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test, Eligibility Test.
(ii) Arithmetical and Numerical Ability : Simplification, Decimals, Data Interpretation, Fractions, L.C.M., H.C.F., Ratio &
Proportion, Percentage, Average, Profit & Loss, Discount, Simple & Compound Interest, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time &
Distance, Tables & Graphs etc.
(iii) General Science : 1. Physics -Mechanics, heat, magnetism, Electricity, Light, sound, ,modern physics, 2. Chemistry - nature
and composition of substances, atomic structure, radioactivity, isotopic isotope isotronic, chemical bond, Oxidation &
Equipment, acid, ash and salt, Valency and Atomic Weight, General properties of gases, Merger, electrochemistry,
thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, inducement, fuel, periodic classification of elements, Latin names and chemical symbols
of elements, metallurgical treatment, metals and their compounds, non-metals and their compounds, organic chemistry,
Various such as alloy, fertilizer, cement etc.3. Biology -plant diseases, plant tissue, plant genetics, cell Biology, ecology,
Pollution, health and nutrition, human physiology, classification of animal kingdom, branch of zoology, chief biologist. 4.
Computer/IT - Basic knowledge and fundamentals about Computer, Word Processing, Spread sheet, generation of Slides,
Email etc.
(iv) Economic & Social Development and General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change :
Economic growth and development – basic concept and definition of economy and economics, uses and transfer of resources,
distributive effects, macro and micro economic policy, micro-macro balance, distributive impact of economic policies,
development versus growth, determinant of growth and development, concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII,
TAI, Green index, sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices.
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change –
Terms like climate change, ecosystem, sustainable development, natural disaster, etc. are regularly featured in
the news.
Environment topics can be interlinked with core concepts of other subjects like geography, biology, botany,
zoology and also the economy.
Environment can also overlap with policy and governance since many government schemes are linked towards
preserving the natural resources and environment, conservation of flora and fauna, and reducing pollution, etc.
(v) 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.
(vi) Decision Making and Problem solving: Identify the problem, Identify the possible solutions, Select the best solution,
Eliminate other solutions, Make the decision.
(vii) Management Principles & Practices
Principles of management (Planning, organizing, Directing & Control etc.), Job analysis, Job description Job specification, Job
design, Job change, Recruitment, Communication, Leadership, Motivation, Negotiations, Financial Management, Delegation,
Working & Networking, Project Appraisal, Career Advancement, Procurement, Stores, Inventory Management, Facilities &
Infrastructure Management
(viii) National Geography : Basics of India, Physical features, River systems, Climate, Minerals and Industries, Agriculture,
Natural vegetation and fauna, Economic infrastructure, Human Geography
Paper – III
English / Hindi – Descriptive Paper
(i) Essay writing (02 questions)
(ii) Precis writing (01 question)
(iii) Letter/Application writing (01 question)
A4. Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
Computer Proficiency Test – Qualifying in Nature - For the posts of ASOs (Gen/F&A/S&P) only (Total Marks = 100) (Time :
01 Hour)
(i) CPT will judge proficiency in Word Processing, Spread Sheet, Generation of Slides etc. Exercises will include
Typing of a passage and/or other word processing exercises; preparation of spreadsheet; preparation of
Power Point Presentation and related exercises which are required in the normal day to day functioning of
an Office.
(ii) CPT will be qualifying only. Candidates are required to obtain the Minimum cut off marks in CPT.
(iii) For PwBD candidates, Govt. of India/Staff Selection Commission (SSC) rules on CPT shall be followed.