The Indian Information Service (IIS) is one of the most coveted careers in the field of communication and media. It is the communication arm of the Indian government, responsible for disseminating public information and managing national media campaigns. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the IIS exam, which attracts a large number of candidates every year.
The IIS exam is conducted in three stages: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview. The preliminary exam is an objective type paper, while the main exam consists of a written test and an interview. The IIS exam syllabus is a vast one, covering a wide range of subjects. Therefore, it is important for candidates to have a clear understanding of the syllabus to master the exam.
The preliminary exam comprises two papers, which are general studies and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The general studies paper comprises current events, history of India and Indian national movement, Indian geography, world geography, Indian polity, Indian economy, environmental ecology and biodiversity, general science, and technology. Candidates need to have a good understanding of all these topics to perform well in this paper.
The CSAT paper comprises comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision making, problem-solving, basic numeracy, data interpretation, and English language comprehension skills. Candidates need to answer 80 questions in this paper, and it carries a maximum of 200 marks.
The main exam, on the other hand, comprises six papers, which include essay writing, English language, general studies I, general studies II, general studies III, and optional subjects. Candidates need to choose two optional subjects from a list of given subjects. The general studies papers again cover topics such as Indian governance and public policy, international relations, technology development, economic development, biodiversity, and environment, social justice, and security.
The essay paper carries a maximum of 250 marks, while the English language paper carries 300 marks. The optional subjects carry 250 marks each, and the general studies papers carry 250 marks each. In addition to these, the interview carries a maximum of 275 marks.
To master the IIS exam, candidates need to have a clear understanding of the syllabus. They need to read and comprehend the topics thoroughly to perform well in the exam. It is also important to have a structured study plan that covers all the topics and allows sufficient time for revision.
Apart from that, practicing previous year question papers and taking mock tests will help candidates to get an idea of the exam pattern, improve their speed and time management skills, and familiarize themselves with the type of questions asked in the exam.