Scheme of Examination

• The Examination is conducted in four tiers as indicated below:

1. Tier-I-Computer Based Examination
2. Tier-II-Computer Based Examination
3. Tier-III-Pen and Paper Mode (Descriptive paper)
4. Tier-IV-Computer Proficiency Test/ Skill Test (wherever applicable)/ Document Verification

• Tentative Answer Keys are placed on the Commission’s website after the Examination. Any candidate can make representation against the answer after paying Rs 100 per question.

• Marks scored by candidates in Computer Based Examinations, if conducted in multiple shifts, are normalized by using the formula published by the Commission through Notice No: 1-1/2018-P&P-I dated 07-02-2019 and such normalized scores are used to determine final merit and cut-off marks.

• Based on the marks scored in Tier I, candidates are shortlisted category-wise to appear for Tier II examination. And similarly for the Tier III examination.

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Scheme of Tier I examination

Tier	Subject	Number of Questions	Maximum Marks	Time allowed
I	General Intelligence and Reasoning	25	50	60 Minutes (Total) For VH/ OH (afflicted with Cerebral Palsy/deformity in writing hand-Pl. See para-5.10of Notice):80 Minutes
	General Awareness	25	50
	Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
	English Comprehension	25	50
II	Paper-I: Quantitative Abilities	100	200	120 Minutes (for each Paper) For VH/ OH (afflicted with Cerebral Palsy/deformity in writing hand-Pl. See para-5.10of Notice):160Minutes
	Paper-II: English Language and Comprehension	200	200
	Paper-III: Statistics	100	200
	Paper-IV: General Studies (Finance and Economics	100	200

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Scheme of Tier III Examination

Tier	Mode of Examination	Scheme of Examination	Maximum Marks	Time Allowed
III	Pen and Paper mode	Descriptive Paper in English or Hindi (Writing of Essay/ Precis/ Letter/ Application etc.)	100	60 Minutes For VH/ OH (afflicted with Cerebral Palsy/deformity in writing hand-Pl. See para-5.10of Notice):80 Minutes

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Important instructions to remember while writing Tier III examination are:

• The Paper in Tier-III has to be written either in Hindi or in English. Part paper written in Hindi and part in English will be awarded ZERO marks.

• The candidates are strictly advised not to write any personal identity e.g. name, roll number, mobile number, address, etc inside the Answer Book (Tier-III). The candidates who fail to adhere to these instructions are most likely awarded ZERO marks even if marks are awarded during the evaluation process. It is done under UNFAIR MEANS PROCESS.

Tier-IV (Skill Test)

In the Tier-IV, Computer Proficiency Test and Data Entry Skill Test will be conducted.

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Indicative Syllabus (Tier I):

General Intelligence & Reasoning:

Verbal Type:

• Analogies
• Similarities and differences
• Space visualization
• Spatial orientation
• Problem solving
• Analysis
• Judgment
• Decision making
• Visual memory
• Discrimination
• Observation
• Relationship concepts
• Arithmetical reasoning and figural classification
• Arithmetic number series
• Coding and decoding
• Statement conclusion
• Syllogistic reasoning

Non-Verbal Type:

• Non-verbal series
• Semantic Analogy
• Symbolic/Number Analogy
• Figural Analogy
• Semantic Classification
• Symbolic/Number Classification
• Figural Classification
• Semantic Series
• Figural Series
• Problem Solving
• Word Building
• Coding & de-coding
• Numerical Operations
• symbolic Operations Trends
• Space Orientation
• Space Visualization
• Venn Diagrams
• Drawing inferences
• Punched hole/ pattern-folding & un-folding
• Figural Pattern-folding and completion
• Indexing
• Address matching
• Date & city matching
• Classification of centre codes/roll numbers
• Small & Capital letters/numbers coding, decoding and classification
• Embedded Figures
• Critical thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Social Intelligence

General Awareness

• India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy & Scientific Research
• Candidate’s general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Number System
• Percentage
• Ratio & Proportion
• Square roots
• Averages
• Interest
• Profit and Loss
• Discount
• Partnership Business
• Mixture and Alligation
• Time and distance
• Time & Work
• Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds
• Graphs of Linear Equations
• Triangle and its various kinds of centres
• Congruence and similarity of triangles
• Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles
• Quadrilaterals
• Mensuration 3D: Cone, Cylinder, Rectangular parallelepiped, Right Pyramid
• Trigonometric ratio
• Heights and Distances
• Charts: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar diagram & Pie chart

English Comprehension

• Basic understanding of correct English
• Basic comprehension and writing ability

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Indicative Syllabus (Tier II)

Paper I (Quantitative Abilities)

• Number System
• Percentage, Ratio & Proportion
• Averages
• Interest
• Profit and Loss
• Discount & Partnership Business
• Mixture and Alligation
• Time and distance
• Time & Work
• Algebra
• Mensuration 2D- Circles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals and Polygons
• Mensuration 3D- Cone, Cylinder, Rectangular parallelepiped, Right Pyramid
• Trigonometric ratio & Heights and Distances
• Charts: Histogram, Bar diagram and Pie Chart

Paper II (English Language and Comprehension)

• Basic understanding of correct English,
• Basic comprehension and writing ability
• Spot the error
• Fill in the blanks
• Synonyms & Antonyms
• Spelling/ detecting misspelled words
• Idioms & phrases
• One-word substitution
• Improvement of sentences
• Active/passive voice of verbs
• Direct/indirect narration
• Shuffling of sentence parts & shuffling of sentences in a passage
• Cloze passage
• Comprehension passage

Paper III (Statistics)

Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data

• Primary and Secondary data, Methods of data collection; Tabulation of data; Graphs and charts; Frequency distributions; Diagrammatic presentation of frequency distributions.

Measures of Central Tendency

• Common measures of central tendency –mean median and mode; Partition values-quartiles, deciles, percentiles.

Measures of Dispersion

• Common measures dispersion –range, quartile deviations, mean deviation and standard deviation; Measures of relative dispersion.

Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis

• Different types of moments and their relationship; meaning of skewness and kurtosis; different measures of skewness and kurtosis.

Correlation and Regression

• Scatter diagram; simple correlation coefficient; simple regression lines; Spearman’s rank correlation; Measures of association of attributes; Multiple regression; Multiple and partial correlation (For three variables only).

Probability Theory

• Meaning of probability; Different definitions of probability; Conditional probability; Compound probability; Independent events; Bayes‟ theorem.

Random Variable and Probability Distributions

• Random variable; Probability functions; Expectation and Variance of a random variable; Higher moments of a random variable; Binomial, Poisson, Normal and Exponential distributions; Joint distribution of two random variable (discrete).

Sampling Theory

• Concept of population and sample; Parameter and statistic, Sampling and non-sampling errors; Probability and non-probability sampling techniques(simple random sampling, stratified sampling, multistage sampling, multiphase sampling, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, purposive sampling, convenience sampling and quota sampling); Sampling distribution(statement only); Sample size decisions.

Statistical Inference

• Point estimation and interval estimation, Properties of a good estimator, Methods of estimation (Moments method, Maximum likelihood method, Least squares method), Testing of hypothesis, Basic concept of testing, Small sample and large sample tests, Tests based on Z, t, Chi-square and F statistic, Confidence intervals.

Analysis of Variance

• Analysis of one-way classified data and two-way classified data

Time Series Analysis

• Components of time series, Determinations of trend component by different methods, Measurement of seasonal variation by different methods.

Index Numbers

• Meaning of Index Numbers, Problems in the construction of index numbers, Types of index number, Different formulae, Base shifting and splicing of index numbers, Cost of living Index Numbers, Uses of Index Numbers.

Paper-IV (General Studies-Finance and Economics)

Part A: Finance and Accounts (80 marks)

Fundamental principles and basic concept of Accounting:

• Financial Accounting: Nature and scope, Limitations of Financial Accounting, Basic concepts and Conventions, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

• Basic concepts of accounting: Single and double entry, Books of original Entry, Bank Reconciliation, Journal, ledgers, Trial Balance, Rectification of Errors, Manufacturing, Trading, Profit & loss Appropriation Accounts, Balance Sheet Distinction between Capital and Revenue Expenditure, Depreciation Accounting, Valuation of Inventories, Non-profit organisations Accounts, Receipts and Payments and Income & Expenditure Accounts, Bills of Exchange, Self Balancing Ledgers.

Part B: Economics and Governance-(120 marks):

• Comptroller & Auditor General of India-Constitutional provisions, Role and responsibility.

• Finance Commission-Role and functions.

• Basic Concept of Economics and introduction to Micro Economics: Definition, scope and nature of Economics, Methods of economic study and Central problems of an economy and Production possibilities curve.

• Theory of Demand and Supply: Meaning and determinants of demand, Law of demand and Elasticity of demand, Price, income and cross elasticity; Theory of consumer’s behaviour-Marshallian approach and Indifference curve approach, Meaning and determinants of supply, Law of supply and Elasticity of Supply.

• Theory of Production and cost: Meaning and Factors of production; Laws of production-Law of variable proportions and Laws of returns to scale.

• Forms of Market and price determination in different markets: Various forms of markets-Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly ad Price determination in these markets.

• Indian Economy:

Nature of the Indian Economy Role of different sectors-Role of Agriculture, Industry and Services-their problems and growth;

National Income of India-Concepts of national income, Different methods of measuring national income.

Population-Its size, rate of growth and its implication on economic growth.

Poverty and unemployment-Absolute and relative poverty, types, causes and incidence of unemployment.

Infrastructure-Energy, Transportation, Communication.

Economic Reforms in India: Economic reforms since 1991; Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation and Disinvestment.

• Money and Banking:

Monetary/ Fiscal policy-Role and functions of Reserve Bank of India; functions of commercial Banks/RRB/Payment Banks.

Budget and Fiscal deficits and Balance of payments.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003.

• Role of Information Technology in Governance.

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Note: Questions in Paper-I will be of Matriculation Level, Paper-II of 10+2 Level and in Paper-III and Paper-IV of Graduation Level.

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Skill Test Tier IV

Data Entry Skill Test (DEST)

• For the post of Tax Assistants (Central Excise & Income Tax): Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) at 8,000 (eight thousand) Key Depression per hour on Computer.

• This test is conducted for a passage of about 2000 (two thousand) key depressions for a duration of 15 (fifteen) minutes.

• This test is of qualifying nature.

Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)

• It comprises of three modules
  1. Word Processing,
  2. Spread Sheet
  3. Generation of Slides

• It is conducted for the posts of Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA & AFHQ, Assistant in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Assistant (GSI) in the Ministry of Mines ,Inspector (Central Excise), Inspector (Preventive Officer) & Inspector (Examiner) in CBIC.