Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC)

To ensure success in the examination conducted by Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC), Raipur, there is a need to make proper and dynamic strategy according to its nature.
This is the first process by which half of your success is ensured in the very beginning itself.
It is to be noted that this exam is generally conducted in three stages :
- Preliminary Examination (Objective Type & Multiple choice).
- Main Examination (Conventional Type, i.e. Written examination).
- Interview.
In order to reach each next stage, it is necessary to succeed in the previous stage.
The nature of examination of these three stages is different from each other. Hence, there is a need to make a different strategy to ensure success at each stage.

Preliminary Exam Strategy

Like other State Public Service Commissions, the nature of questions in the preliminary examination of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission is also objective (multiple choice) type.
To ensure your success in the Preliminary Examination, first study its syllabus thoroughly and keeping in mind all its parts and aspects, determine the order of preference according to convenience and interest.
A micro observation of the questions asked in the Preliminary Examination in the last 5 to 10 years and pay more attention to the points and headings on which there has been a tendency to ask questions in the previous years.
The syllabus of the first paper ‘General Studies’ is mainly divided into two parts.
- In the first part, where questions related to traditional general studies and current events are asked
- In the second part questions related to general knowledge of Chhattisgarh and current events of Chhattisgarh are asked.
- 50-50 questions are included from both these parts in this question paper. Each question is of 2 marks.
- Its detailed information is given in the title ‘Syllabus’.
- A micro observation at the syllabus of this exam and the nature of questions asked in the previous years, it is known that deep conceptual and factual knowledge of some sections is essential. Like;
  - Who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism?
  - Which hormone is found in gaseous state?
  - What is the state animal of Chhattisgarh? etc.
- The easiest way to remember and solve these questions is to make short notes related to the factual information of the subject and study it regularly. A question was asked;
  - Which is the major gypsum producing state of India?
  - To answer such questions, a list of the major mineral producing states of India should be prepared.
It is beneficial to study NCERT books for traditional general studies questions asked in this exam.
- Also, the help of related text material available on the internet and ‘Drishti website’ can be used.
The ‘Quick Book on General Science and Technology’ by Drishtiias can be helpful for solving science and ‘Computer’ based questions.
- Also, it will be beneficial for the candidates to study the special issue of ‘Science’ of ‘Drishti Current Affairs Today’ published by ‘Drishti Publication’.
In this exam, the frequency of questions asked from census, current events and state-specific is high, so they should be studied seriously on a regular basis.
Keeping in view the nature and number of ‘current events’ (with reference to National and Chhattisgarh), you may regularly visit any daily newspaper like The Hindu, Dainik Jagran (National Edition) etc. as well as current affairs available on Drishti website can be studied.
- Apart from this, it will be beneficial to study the standard monthly magazine ‘Drishti Current Affairs Today’ for the preparation of this section.
- In solving state-specific questions, it will be beneficial to study the book ‘Chhattisgarh State Special’ or any standard state level book available in the market published by the Publications Department of the Government of Chhattisgarh.
The second paper is the ‘Test of Aptitude’ (CSAT), in which the total number of questions is 100 and the maximum marks are 200.
- The detailed information about its course is given in the title ‘Syllabus’ under ‘Brief Description of the Notification’.
- Questions related to CSAT can be practiced by categorizing the questions asked earlier into different sections.
Due to equal marks for all questions and the provision of negative marking for wrong answers (1/3 of the marks assigned for the correct answer will be deducted for each wrong answer).
- Attempting questions carefully while avoiding negative marking can also reduce their actual score.
It is generally beneficial to try to solve the practice papers and questions asked in the previous years in the preliminary examination within the prescribed time limit (generally two hours) usually 15-20 days before the date of the preliminary examination.
- By solving these questions, while the understanding of the subject is developed, it becomes easier to solve the repetitive questions in these exams.
Generally 50-60% marks are required to pass this exam, but sometimes this percentage can be less depending on the difficulty level of the questions.

Mains Exam Strategy

The preparation strategy of CGPSC differs from that of the Preliminary exam due to the descriptive/analytical nature of the Mains exam.
- While the preliminary examination is qualifying in nature, the marks obtained in the main examination are added to the final merit list.
- Hence, this stage of the examination is very important and crucial to a great extent.
According to the new amendment in the released in 2018, now seven compulsory papers will be asked in this main examination.
In which the first two papers are from ‘Language’ and ‘Essay’ respectively and the other five papers from General Studies (‘History, Constitution and Public Administration’, ‘Science, Technology, Aptitude Test, Reasoning Ability and Intelligence and Environment’, ‘Economy and Geography’. , ‘Philosophy and Sociology’ and welfare, developmental programs and laws, international and national sports, events and organizations and educational institutions and human development). Its detailed information is given in the heading ‘Syllabus’ under ‘Brief Description of the release’.
- ‘Language’ has been included as the first question paper.
According to the syllabus, there will be questions related to General Hindi, General English and Chhattisgarhi language. So candidates need all this information.
- The language question paper in the earlier syllabus also included General Sanskrit, which has now been removed.
The nature of the questions asked earlier in the first paper shows that there are a lot of grammar related questions in it.
- Therefore, it is necessary to study them regularly from any standard book available in the market.
An essay has been included in the form of a second question paper.
- It will have two parts (National level problems and Chhattisgarh state problems).
- Four topics will be given from each part. In this, the candidate will have to write an essay (reason, current situation with data and solution) on a total of four topics (two problems from each part).
- Each essay will be written in about 750-750 words, for which 50-50 marks (total 200 marks) have been fixed.
- Essay papers are very important and crucial. To make the essay interesting, verses, poems, quotes, sayings of great men, etc. can be used.
The third paper is related to traditional general studies.
- In this, there will be questions related to the history of India, freedom movement of India, history of Chhattisgarh and contribution of Chhattisgarh in the freedom movement.
- Along with this, questions related to the Constitution of India and Public Administration will also be asked from the candidates.
- For its preparation, along with the study of standard books, it will be beneficial for the candidates to make short point-wise notes according to the nature of questions in the main examination.
- In-depth observation and answer-writing according to the nature of the questions will be helpful in getting good marks.
The fourth paper will have questions related to Science, Technology, Aptitude Test, Reasoning Ability and Intelligence and Environment.
- Under science, where there will be questions related to chemistry, physics and biology, questions related to the practical side of technology will be asked, apart from this, questions related to marine pollution and biodiversity will also be asked under the environment, as well as mathematics and reasoning.
- Under Mathematics, questions related to Arithmetic, Algebra, Commercial Mathematics, Coordinate Geometry and Statistical calculations and graphs and questions related to reasoning and computer calculations will also be asked.
- For this, the practice of questions related to statistics along with the conceptual aspects of mathematics is very necessary.
- It will be beneficial to study section-wise questions asked from this paper in previous years and practice from any level book related to each title.
The fifth question paper will have questions related to economy and geography.
- In this, questions will be asked related to the Indian economy and planning and planning in India as well as the geography and economy of Chhattisgarh and agriculture, forest, industry and natural resources in Chhattisgarh.
- It is clear from the nature and syllabus of the questions that in this paper it will be beneficial for the candidates to study the Indian economy and geography in relation to Chhattisgarh.
The paper of ‘Philosophy and Sociology’ has been included in the sixth paper.
- In this question paper, along with the study of Indian philosophy and yoga and sociology, questions related to the tribes, art and culture of Chhattisgarh state will also be asked.
In this main examination of CGPSC, as the seventh question paper, under a new initiative, the question paper of ‘Welfare, Developmental Programs and Law, International and National Sports, Events and Organizations and Educational Institutions and Human Development has been included.
- In this paper, questions related to the study of social and important legislation and international and national sports, events and organization, as well as questions related to national educational institutions and human development will also be asked.
- Apart from this, this question paper will also have questions related to various prevalent Acts and Schemes in Chhattisgarh.
After observing the nature and syllabus of this main examination of CGPSC, it is clear that it will be beneficial to study all its syllabus in the context of Chhattisgarh state.
It is recommended to make pointwise notes on each topic of the syllabus on the basis of at least two standard books for the study of a Chhattisgarh state special.
For the complete preparation of Chhattisgarh PCS (Preliminary and Main Examination), it will be more beneficial to study CGPCS DLP because the booklets of this DLP have been prepared according to the new syllabus of the commission as well as trend analysis of questions and inclusion of approximate questions.
- Having this DLP takes you far closer to success, eliminating distractions.
Generally 60-65% marks are required to be scored in this stage of the examination. However, due to the change in the syllabus, this percentage may be slightly less.
Credit will be given to the organized, subtle and powerful expression in the least number of words in all the subjects of the examination.
It is known that the answers of the descriptive nature papers have to be written in the answer-book, so while writing the answers to such questions, special attention should be paid to the writing style and accuracy as well as time management.
The development of writing style and consistency is through continuous practice, for which a comprehensive understanding of the subject is essential.

Interview Strategy

The candidates selected in the main examination (generally 3 times the total number of vacancies mentioned in the notification) have to appear for an interview before the commission after one month ordinarily.
Interview is the last and important stage of any examination.
In terms of marks, but it has a special contribution in the final selection and post determination.
The personality of the candidates is tested during the interview, in which oral questions are asked by the members of the commission at the designated place in the commission, to which the candidate has to answer orally.
A total of 150 marks have been fixed for interview in this CGPSC exam.
Your final selection is done on the basis of a merit list prepared on the basis of the aggregate of marks obtained in the main examination and interview.