Civil Services Examination is considered to the toughest exam of our country. Every year lakhs of students take this test, but only a few make it through. Those who are selected get the prestigious posts of IAS, IFS etc. The Exam is held every year by UPSC. It is held in two stages. The first stage is a preliminary examination, clearing which the students can sit for the mains. Students have to take two optional subjects in the mains. There will be two papers on each of the subject. Students can take botany as one of the subjects. The pattern of the test is given below.

The question paper is of three hours duration with a total of 300 marks. The questions are all conventional types. The paper is divided in two sections. There are eight questions in all in the paper. Students have to answer any five, but questions 1 and 5 are compulsory. They can answer any three from the remaining questions taking at least one from each section. All the questions are of equal marks. The questions can contain smaller parts to which the 60 marks carried by the question may be divided.

Links:

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Botany/BOTANY-2009-main-I.pdf

http://www.civilserviceindia.com/upsc_questions/Botony_Main_2005.pdf

http://examrace.com/IASMainsPaperBotany2009.aspx

http://examrace.com/IASmains_botany07.aspx

http://examrace.com/IASmains_botany06.aspx