The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) conducts the Combined Civil Services Examination in two successive stages: a Preliminary Examination followed by a Main Examination (written test and interview).
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination
This stage consists of two compulsory objective-type papers, each carrying 200 marks with a duration of 2 hours. The papers are available in both Hindi and English. There is no negative marking for wrong answers; however, if a candidate marks more than one option for any question, it will be treated as incorrect regardless of whether one of the chosen answers is right.
Both papers are qualifying in nature, and candidates are shortlisted for the Main Examination based on their combined total score across the two papers.
Stage 2 – Main Examination (Written + Interview)
The written component consists of 6 papers as outlined below:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | General Hindi & General English | 100 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | Language and Literature | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Paper III | Social Sciences | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper IV | Indian Constitution & Polity, Public Administration & Good Governance | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper V | Indian Economy, Globalization & Sustainable Development | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper VI | General Sciences, Environment & Technology Development | 200 | 3 Hours |
Shortlisting for the Interview is based on marks obtained in Papers II through VI (totaling 950 marks), subject to two conditions candidates must score at least 30 marks in Paper I, and must also meet the minimum aggregate qualifying marks prescribed for Papers II to VI.
The Interview carries 100 marks, with no minimum qualifying threshold required.
JPSC Preliminary Examination – Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination consists of two compulsory objective-type papers
General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II – each carrying 200 marks with a duration of 2 hours.
General Studies Paper I (200 Marks | 100 Questions × 2 Marks)
Candidates must attempt all 100 questions. The subject-wise breakdown is as follows:
| Subject | Sub-topic | No. of Questions |
| (A) History of India | Ancient India | 5 |
| Medieval India | 5 | |
| Modern India | 5 | |
| (B) Geography of India | General Geography | 3 |
| Physical Geography | 3 | |
| Economic Geography | 2 | |
| Social & Demographic Geography | 2 | |
| (C) Indian Polity & Governance | Constitution of India | 4 |
| Public Administration & Good Governance | 4 | |
| Decentralization: Panchayats & Municipalities | 2 | |
| (D) Economic & Sustainable Development | Basic Features of Indian Economy | 4 |
| Sustainable Development & Economic Issues | 4 | |
| Economic Reforms & Globalization | 2 | |
| (E) Science & Technology | General Science | 6 |
| Agriculture & Technology Development | 6 | |
| Information & Communication Technology | 3 | |
| (F) Jharkhand Specific Questions | History, Society, Culture & Heritage | 10 |
| (G) National & International Current Events | – | 15 |
| (H) Miscellaneous | Human Rights, Environment & Biodiversity, Urbanization, Sports, Disaster Management, Poverty & Unemployment, Awards, UN & International Agencies | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
General Studies Paper II (200 Marks | 100 Questions × 2 Marks)
This paper also consists of 100 compulsory objective-type questions, each carrying 2 marks, to be completed within 2 hours.
JPSC Main Examination Syllabus
Paper I – General Hindi & General English (100 Marks | Qualifying – Minimum 30 Marks)
This is a composite qualifying paper with two equal segments of 50 marks each, set at matriculation level. It tests basic working knowledge of both languages.
General Hindi (50 Marks)
- Essay (400 words) – 15 marks
- Grammar – 15 marks
- Sentence Construction – 10 marks
- Précis Writing – 10 marks
General English (50 Marks)
- Essay (400 words) – 15 marks
- Grammar – 15 marks
- Comprehension – 10 marks
- Précis Writing -10 marks
Note: Marks from this paper are not counted toward the final merit list.
Paper II – Language & Literature (150 Marks)
Candidates choose one language and its literature from the following 15 options: Oriya, Bangali, Urdu, Sanskrit, English, Hindi, Santhali, Panchpargania, Nagpuri, Mundari, Kurux, Kurmali, Khortha, Khadia, or Ho.
Paper III – Social Sciences (200 Marks)
This paper is divided into two equal sections -History and Geography – of 100 marks each. Each section has one compulsory objective question (10 questions × 2 marks = 20 marks) and four optional descriptive questions, of which candidates answer two (40 marks each).
Section A – History (100 Marks)
Ancient Period
- Indus Valley Civilization origin, extent, and key features
- Origin of the Aryans and Vedic literature society, economy, and religion
- The Lichchavis and their republican system
- Rise of the Magadhan Empire
- The Mauryas empire, Kalinga War, Ashoka’s Dhamma, art and architecture
- The Kushanas Kanishka’s reign, religious policy, art and culture
- The Guptas language, literature, and artistic development
- Harsha-Vardhan and his cultural contributions
- The Cholas maritime activities, administration, art and architecture
- Cultural achievements of the Pallavas
Medieval Period
- Arab and Ghaznavid invasions of India
- Delhi Sultanate reforms of Alauddin Khilji and policies of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
- Mongol invasion of India
- Religious movements Sufism and the Bhakti Movement
- Indo-Islamic culture architecture, Urdu and Hindi languages
- The Mughals Battle of Panipat, Sher Shah Suri, Akbar’s administration and policies, Aurangzeb, Mughal art and economy
- Rise of the Marathas Shivaji’s achievements and eventual decline
Modern Period
- European settlements and the East India Company Battles of Plassey and Buxar, Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse
- Resistance to colonial rule peasant and tribal revolts, Revolt of 1857
- Social reform movements Brahma Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, and others
- Muslim reform movements Wahabi and Aligarh movements
- Women’s rights abolition of Sati, Widow Remarriage Act, female education
- Land revenue systems Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari
- Rise of nationalism Indian National Congress, Moderates and Extremists, Swadeshi, Home Rule, and Khilafat movements
- Gandhi and mass politics Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements
- Partition of India and its aftermath
- Post-independence an integration of princely states, linguistic reorganization, Non-Alignment Policy, liberation of Bangladesh
History of Jharkhand
- Adi-dharma (Sarana cult) of tribal communities
- Concept of Sadan and the emergence of Nagpuria language
- Tribal revolts and the nationalist struggle
- Birsa Movement and Tana Bhagat Movement
- Freedom movement in Jharkhand
Section B – Geography (100 Marks)
Physical Geography – General Principles
- Origin and evolution of the Earth; Continental Drift Theory and plate tectonics; volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis
- Rock types and their characteristics; landforms in fluvial, glacial, arid, and karst regions
- Geomorphic processes and weathering, erosion, deposition, soil formation; landscape cycle theories of Davis and Penck
- Atmospheric composition, structure, and stratification
- Insolation, heat budget, temperature distribution, and temperature inversion
- Air masses, fronts, tropical and temperate cyclones
- Evaporation, condensation, types of clouds and rainfall
- Climate classification (Koppen and Thornthwaite); greenhouse effect, global warming
- Hydrological cycle; ocean temperature, salinity, waves, tides, currents, and ocean floor features
Physical and Human Geography of India
- Relief, physiographic divisions, and drainage systems and Himalayan and Peninsular
- Indian monsoon and mechanism, onset, and retreat; climatic types; Green Revolution and its crop impact
- Natural vegetation and forest types, wildlife, conservation, and biosphere reserves
- Soil types (ICAR classification), distribution, degradation, and conservation
- Natural hazards and floods, droughts, cyclones, and landslides
- Population and growth, distribution, density, age-sex ratio, rural-urban composition
- Human settlements and types, urban morphology, and settlement challenges in India
Natural Resources of India – Development and Utilization
- Land resources and agricultural land use and distribution of major crops (rice, wheat, cotton, jute, sugarcane, rubber, tea, coffee)
- Water resources and irrigation, water scarcity, rainwater harvesting, watershed and groundwater management
- Minerals and energy and metallic minerals (iron, copper, bauxite, manganese), conventional fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas), hydroelectricity, and non-conventional energy (solar, wind, biogas)
- Industrial development and types of industries, location factors, distribution of key industries (iron & steel, textiles, sugar, petrochemicals); Weber’s theory of industrial location
- Transport, communication, and trade and roads, railways, waterways; India’s foreign trade patterns
Geography of Jharkhand
- Geological history, landforms, drainage, climate, soil, and forests
- Agriculture, irrigation, Damodar and Subarnarekha valley projects; mineral resources
- Population and growth, density, tribal distribution, tribal development issues, customs, and festivals
- Industrial and urban development and iron, steel, cement, and cottage industries
- Urban settlement patterns and pollution issues
Paper IV – Indian Constitution & Polity, Public Administration & Good Governance (200 Marks)
Each section carries 100 marks with one compulsory objective question (20 marks) and two descriptive optional questions (40 marks each).
Section A – Indian Constitution & Polity
- Preamble and philosophy of a secular, democratic, and socialist republic
- Salient features, basic structure, Public Interest Litigation
- Fundamental Rights and Duties; Directive Principles of State Policy
- Union Executive and President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, coalition governance
- Union Legislature and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; law-making process; parliamentary committees and privileges
- Union Judiciary and Supreme Court; judicial review and judicial activism; rule of law
- State Executive and Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers
- State Legislature and organization, powers, and functions with reference to Jharkhand
- State Judiciary and High Court, subordinate judiciary
- Panchayats and Municipalities and 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments
- Centre-State relations and administrative, legislative, and financial
- Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas administration
- Reservation provisions for SC and ST in legislature and services
- Emergency provisions; Comptroller and Auditor General; Election Commission
- Political parties and pressure groups
Section B – Public Administration & Good Governance
- Public administration meaning, scope, and importance; public vs. private administration
- Union administration Central Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, PMO, Planning Commission, Finance Commission
- State administration State Secretariat, Chief Secretary’s office
- District administration role of District Magistrate and Collector; impact of separation of judiciary
- Personnel administration and civil services recruitment, UPSC and State PSCs, training, leadership, morale
- Delegation, centralization, and decentralization of authority
- Bureaucracy and its origins, merits, demerits, policy role, and relationship with political executive
- Development administration and disaster management and causes, classification, mitigation
- Good governance and accountability, transparency, civil society participation, grievance redressal (Lokpal, Lokayukta, CVC)
- Key legislation and RTI Act, Right to Service Act, Right to Education Act, Consumer Protection Act, Domestic Violence Act, Old Age Act
- Human rights and UDHR, National and State Human Rights Commissions; human rights and terrorism
Paper V – Indian Economy, Globalization & Sustainable Development (200 Marks)
This paper has a compulsory objective section (40 marks – 20 questions × 2 marks) covering all groups, plus four descriptive optional questions (40 marks each), one from each group.
Group A – Basic Features of Indian Economy
- National income and GDP, GNP, NDP, NNP, GSDP; methods of calculation
- Inflation and concepts and monetary, fiscal, and direct control measures
- Demographic features workforce, demographic dividend, National Population Policy (Census 2011)
- Agriculture importance, productivity, Green Revolution, WTO, agricultural marketing and pricing
- Industrial economy policy changes and initiatives
- Public finance taxation types (direct, indirect, VAT), public expenditure, borrowings
- Budget and types (performance-based, zero-based), FRMB
- Fiscal policy and role in employment, stability, and growth
- Centre-State fiscal relations; Finance Commission; 73rd and 74th Amendment implications
- Monetary and banking system structure
- India’s trade composition and balance of payments
Group B – Sustainable Development & Indian Development Strategy
- Meaning and measurement of economic development; indicators HDI, GDI, GEM
- Role of foreign capital and technology
- Sustainable development Green GDP concept; economic, social, and environmental sustainability
- Inclusive growth 11th and 12th Five Year Plan strategies
- Development of marginalized sections ST, SC, minorities, women; TSP, SCSP schemes
- Poverty and unemployment BPL identification, Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index
- Food and nutritional security PDS, ICDS, Mid-Day Meal schemes; storage and distribution issues
- Planning Five Year Plan objectives; NDC, Planning Commission
- Decentralized planning PRIs and major initiatives
Group C – Economic Reforms & Their Impact
- New Economic Reforms Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization (LPG)
- Role and impact of IMF, World Bank, and WTO on India
- Financial and banking sector reforms; rural credit SHGs, microfinance, NABARD, RRBs, co-operatives
- Globalization’s impact on various sectors; FDI and FII issues
- Agricultural reforms subsidies, public investment, agrarian crisis
- Industrial development changes in industrial policy; SME challenges; public sector disinvestment
Group D – Economy of Jharkhand
- Economic structure SDP, per capita NSDP, agricultural and industrial growth
- Demographic features population, literacy, workforce, rural-urban composition (Census 2001 and 2011)
- Poverty, unemployment, food security, and health indicators; key programs (MGNREGA, PMGSY, NRLM, Bharat Nirman, PURA)
- Land and forest issues land reforms, tribal land alienation, displacement, Forest Rights Act
- Five Year Plans in Jharkhand 10th and 11th Plan achievements; public finance trends; industrial policy
Paper VI – General Science, Environment & Technology Development (200 Marks)
This paper has a compulsory objective section (40 marks – 20 questions × 2 marks) and five descriptive optional questions (32 marks each), one from each group.
Group A – Physical Science
- Units of measurement and MKS, CGS, SI systems
- Basic concepts and speed, velocity, gravity, mass, force, work, power, energy
- Solar system and Earth’s position, eclipses, movement of Earth and Moon
- Sound and wavelength, frequency, infrasonic and ultrasonic sounds and their applications
Group B – Life Science
- Cell structure and functions; diversity of organisms
- Biomolecules carbohydrates, proteins, fats; vitamins, enzymes, plant and animal hormones
- Cell reproduction cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis
- Mendelian inheritance monohybrid and dihybrid cross, sex determination, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis
- Theories of evolution including human evolution
Group C – Agriculture Science
- Agro-climatic zones of Jharkhand rainfall patterns and abiotic stresses
- Rain-fed agriculture and crops, diversification needs, rainwater harvesting, fish farming
- Soil fertility vermicompost, FYM, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, organic farming
- Agro-forestry, wasteland reclamation, and government farming schemes
Group D – Environmental Science
- Ecosystem concept, structure, and function; renewable and non-renewable resources
- Environmental conservation in-situ and ex-situ methods
- Pollution of air, water, sound, soil; solid waste management
- Biodiversity hotspots and threats
- Global issues climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, desertification
- Key environmental laws Environment Protection Act, Air and Water Pollution Control Acts, Forest Conservation Act
Group E – Science & Technology Development
- National Science and Technology Policy
- Energy conventional and non-conventional sources; nuclear energy; NPT and CTBT
- Space technology ISRO programs, satellite applications, missile programme, remote sensing, GIS
- Biotechnology applications in agriculture, animal breeding, pharmaceuticals, food technology; potential risks
- Information technology computers, data processing, cybercrime and cyber laws
- National Health Policy programs for malaria, leprosy, TB, cancer, AIDS, blindness
Final Merit List
| Component | Marks |
| Main Examination (Papers II to VI) | 950 |
| Interview | 100 |
| Grand Total | 1050 |