Mains Syllabus of nic scientist b Exam 2024

Mains Syllabus of NIC Scientist ‘B’ Exam 2024

Paper I: General Studies

1. Current Events of National and International Importance

• National Events:
  • Major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in India.
  • Key government policies and initiatives.
  • Important national events and their impact.
  • Significant achievements and challenges faced by India.
• International Events:
  • Global political and economic trends.
  • Major international organizations and their role.
  • International conflicts and their impact.
  • Important global events and their significance.

2. History of India

• Ancient India:
  • Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Vedic Period.
  • Rise of Major Empires (Maurya, Gupta).
  • Social, Economic, and Religious Developments.
• Medieval India:
  • Delhi Sultanate.
  • Mughal Empire.
  • Rise of Regional Kingdoms.
  • Cultural and Religious Developments.
• Modern India:
  • British Colonial Rule.
  • Indian National Movement.
  • Independence and Partition.
  • Post-Independence India.

3. Indian Polity and Governance

• Constitution of India:
  • Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
  • Structure and Functions of Government.
  • Federalism and Centre-State Relations.
  • Judiciary and Judicial Review.
• Political System:
  • Political Parties and their Role.
  • Electoral System.
  • Pressure Groups and Public Opinion.
• Governance and Administration:
  • Public Policy and Policy Making.
  • Administrative Reforms.
  • Good Governance and Transparency.

4. Indian Economy

• Economic Development:
  • Growth, Employment, and Inequality.
  • Infrastructure and Industrial Development.
  • Agriculture and Rural Development.
  • Foreign Trade and Investment.
• Economic Policies:
  • Monetary and Fiscal Policies.
  • Planning and Development.
  • Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare.
• Current Economic Issues:
  • Inflation, Unemployment, and Fiscal Deficit.
  • Globalization and its Impact.
  • Sustainable Development.

5. General Science

• Physics:
  • Basic Concepts of Motion, Force, Energy, and Heat.
  • Electricity and Magnetism.
  • Light and Sound.
  • Modern Physics (Atomic Structure, Nuclear Physics).
• Chemistry:
  • Basic Concepts of Matter, Atoms, and Molecules.
  • Chemical Bonding and Reactions.
  • Acids, Bases, and Salts.
  • Organic Chemistry (Basic Concepts).
• Biology:
  • Cell Structure and Function.
  • Human Physiology.
  • Plant Physiology.
  • Ecology and Environment.

6. General Awareness

• Current Affairs:
  • National and International News.
  • Sports, Entertainment, and Culture.
  • Science and Technology.
• Geography:
  • Physical Features of India.
  • Climate and Natural Resources.
  • Population Distribution and Demographics.
• Environment:
  • Environmental Issues and Concerns.
  • Climate Change and its Impact.
  • Sustainable Development.

7. Reasoning and Comprehension

• Logical Reasoning:
  • Analogies, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding.
  • Data Interpretation and Analysis.
  • Problem-Solving and Decision Making.
• Verbal Ability:
  • Reading Comprehension.
  • Vocabulary and Grammar.
  • Sentence Completion and Para Jumbles.

8. Computer Awareness

• Basic Computer Concepts:
  • Hardware and Software.
  • Operating Systems.
  • Internet and its Applications.
  • Computer Networks.
• Software Applications:
  • MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Web Browsers and Email Clients.
  • Database Management Systems.

9. Ethics and Values

• Ethical Principles:
  • Integrity, Honesty, and Accountability.
  • Public Service Values.
  • Code of Conduct for Public Servants.
• Values:
  • Social Responsibility.
  • Empathy and Compassion.
  • Leadership and Teamwork.

Paper II: Computer Science and Information Technology

1. Data Structures and Algorithms

• Data Structures:
  • Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs.
  • Hash Tables, Heaps, Tries.
  • Time and Space Complexity Analysis.
• Algorithms:
  • Searching and Sorting Algorithms.
  • Dynamic Programming.
  • Greedy Algorithms.
  • Divide and Conquer.
  • Graph Algorithms (Shortest Path, Minimum Spanning Tree).

2. Programming Languages and Concepts

• Object-Oriented Programming:
  • Concepts of Classes, Objects, Inheritance, Polymorphism.
  • Encapsulation, Abstraction, and Data Hiding.
  • Common Object-Oriented Programming Languages (Java, C++, Python).
• Procedural Programming:
  • Concepts of Functions, Procedures, Variables, Data Types.
  • Control Flow Statements (Loops, Conditional Statements).
  • Common Procedural Programming Languages (C, Pascal).
• Scripting Languages:
  • Concepts of Scripting, Interpreters, and Dynamic Typing.
  • Common Scripting Languages (Python, JavaScript, Perl).

3. Operating Systems

• Operating System Concepts:
  • Process Management, Memory Management, File Management.
  • Input/Output Management, Security and Protection.
  • Types of Operating Systems (Batch, Multiprogramming, Real-Time).
• Common Operating Systems:
  • Windows, Linux, Unix, Android.
  • Understanding of their Features and Architectures.

4. Database Management Systems

• Database Concepts:
  • Relational Database Model, SQL (Structured Query Language).
  • Database Design, Normalization, and Transactions.
  • Database Security and Integrity.
• Database Systems:
  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB.
  • Understanding of their Features and Applications.

5. Computer Networks

• Network Concepts:
  • Network Topologies, Network Protocols (TCP/IP, OSI Model).
  • Network Devices (Routers, Switches, Hubs).
  • Network Security (Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems).
• Network Technologies:
  • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
  • Internetworking and Routing.
  • Cloud Computing and Virtualization.

6. Software Engineering

• Software Development Life Cycle:
  • Requirements Gathering, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment.
  • Software Development Methodologies (Agile, Waterfall).
• Software Quality Assurance:
  • Testing Techniques (Unit Testing, Integration Testing, System Testing).
  • Software Metrics and Quality Measurement.

7. Web Technologies

• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript:
  • Understanding of Web Page Structure, Styling, and Interactivity.
  • Web Development Frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js).
• Server-Side Technologies:
  • PHP, Node.js, Python (Django, Flask).
  • Web Services (RESTful APIs).

8. Information Security

• Security Concepts:
  • Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks.
  • Cryptography (Encryption, Hashing).
  • Authentication and Authorization.
• Security Measures:
  • Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems, Anti-Virus Software.
  • Security Auditing and Compliance.

9. Emerging Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence (AI):
  • Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing.
  • Applications of AI in various domains.
• Big Data and Analytics:
  • Data Mining, Data Warehousing, Data Visualization.
  • Applications of Big Data in various industries.
• Internet of Things (IoT):
  • Concepts of IoT, Smart Devices, and Connected Systems.
  • Applications of IoT in various sectors.

10. Cybersecurity

• Cybersecurity Threats:
  • Malware, Phishing, Social Engineering, Denial-of-Service Attacks.
  • Ransomware, Data Breaches, and Cyber Espionage.
• Cybersecurity Measures:
  • Security Awareness Training, Incident Response Planning.
  • Security Tools and Technologies (Firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems).
  • Best Practices for Secure Computing.

Sample Tables

Table 1: Data Structures and Their Applications

Data Structure	Description	Applications
Array	A contiguous block of memory locations storing elements of the same data type.	Storing lists of items, implementing stacks and queues.
Linked List	A linear data structure where elements are linked together using pointers.	Implementing dynamic lists, representing polynomials.
Stack	A LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) data structure.	Function call stack, undo/redo operations.
Queue	A FIFO (First-In, First-Out) data structure.	Task scheduling, message queues.
Tree	A hierarchical data structure with a root node and child nodes.	Representing file systems, organizing data in a hierarchical manner.
Graph	A non-linear data structure consisting of nodes (vertices) connected by edges.	Representing social networks, maps, and relationships.

Table 2: Common Programming Languages and Their Features

Language	Type	Features	Applications
Java	Object-Oriented	Platform-independent, robust, secure.	Enterprise applications, Android development.
C++	Object-Oriented	High performance, low-level access.	Game development, system programming.
Python	Scripting	Easy to learn, versatile, extensive libraries.	Web development, data science, machine learning.
C	Procedural	Fast, efficient, close to hardware.	System programming, embedded systems.
JavaScript	Scripting	Client-side web development, interactive web pages.	Web development, front-end development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Short Answers for NIC Scientist ‘B’ Exam 2024

General Studies

Q1: What are the major challenges faced by India in the 21st century?
A1: India faces challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and unemployment.

Q2: What are the key features of the Indian Constitution?
A2: The Indian Constitution is a federal, parliamentary democracy with a written constitution, fundamental rights, and directive principles.

Q3: What are the major economic reforms implemented in India since 1991?
A3: Liberalization, privatization, and globalization are the key economic reforms implemented in India since 1991.

Q4: What are the major environmental issues facing India?
A4: Air and water pollution, deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss are major environmental issues in India.

Q5: What are the different types of reasoning questions asked in the exam?
A5: Logical reasoning, verbal ability, and data interpretation are common types of reasoning questions.

Computer Science and Information Technology

Q1: What are the different types of data structures?
A1: Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, and hash tables are common data structures.

Q2: What are the key concepts of object-oriented programming?
A2: Classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, abstraction, and data hiding are key concepts.

Q3: What are the different layers of the OSI model?
A3: The OSI model has seven layers: physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application.

Q4: What are the different types of database management systems?
A4: Relational databases (MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB) are common types.

Q5: What are the different types of cybersecurity threats?
A5: Malware, phishing, social engineering, denial-of-service attacks, ransomware, and data breaches are common threats.

Q6: What are the key features of cloud computing?
A6: On-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service are key features.

Q7: What are the different types of AI algorithms?
A7: Machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision are common AI algorithms.

Q8: What are the key concepts of software engineering?
A8: Software development life cycle, software development methodologies, software quality assurance, and testing techniques are key concepts.

Q9: What are the different types of web development frameworks?
A9: React, Angular, Vue.js, and Django are popular web development frameworks.

Q10: What are the different types of network protocols?
A10: TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, and SMTP are common network protocols.

Note: These are just a few examples of frequently asked questions. The actual questions asked in the exam may vary. It is important to study the entire syllabus thoroughly and practice mock tests to prepare for the exam.