Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
Jahangir’s World Times is the only magazine that caters for the needs of the candidates of the prestigious competitive exams including CSS, PMS and PCS. Candidates often face difficulties in selection of subjects, choosing the right books, preparing for the interviews and so on. JWT’s CSS GURU is an initiative to provide the guidance candidates may need at any stage. Our guru will answer all your queries. If you want to ask something and need guidance, please write to us or email at the following address: Jahangir’s World Times 121-D, Gulberg II, Lahore. email: cssguru@jworldtimes.com
Dear Guru,
Kindly suggest me some best books for Pakistan Affairs, Everyday Science, Islamiyat, Psychology, International Relations and Journalism. Kindly reply me as early as possible because I am going to appear in CSS-2014.
Azmat Ali
Dear Azmat
You should consult the following books:
Pakistan Affairs:
Trek to Pakistan by Ahmad Saeed
Pakistan, the Formative Phase by K. B. Saeed
Making of Pakistan by K. K. Aziz
Pakistan Affairs: A Discourse on Past & Present by Dr Usmani
In addition, you may also consult Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan by Hamid Khan for post-independence topics.
EDS:
EDS by Mian Shafiq & Encyclopaedia of EDS by Rab Nawaz Samoo
Islamiyat:
Islami Nazariya-e-Hayat by Prof Khursheed Ahmad & A Document on Islam by Caravan Book House
Psychology:
Introduction to Psychology by Morgan & King
Abnormal Psychology by Neil Davisson
International Relations:
International Relations by Prakash Chander
Introduction to International Relations by Theodore A. Couloumbis & J.H. Wolfe
International Relations by Kamran Shahid
Newspapers for current issues
Journalism:
Journalism for All by Dr Mehdi Hassan & Dr Abdus Salam Khurshid
Journalism for CSS/PMS by Quratulain & Haseeb Gohar
Dear Sir
I appeared in CSS-2013 exam with optional subjects Journalism, Sociology, Public Administration, Muslim Law and Geography. I am not completely sure about my success, therefore, I have decided to appear again in 2014. Please tell me that should I appear with the same subjects or switch one or two? Some teachers have advised me to opt for British History? And, please also tell that should I continue with the same study plan or make some changes?
Javaria Jehangir
Lahore
Dear Javeria
First of all, it’s time for you to seriously analyze your attempt and the mistakes you think you made. Subject selection is of pivotal importance in CSS preparation and needs proper consideration before reaching a decision. Also analyze your subject selection and papers against your preparation. If you think you did justice or can do justice with your subjects, stick with these. However, if you are not clear about any subject, then the sooner you replace it, the better it is. British History is a good choice for a number of reasons. Scoring trend for this subject has been really encouraging. Its syllabus covers many topics of current affairs as well as the political developments in world history of last four centuries. Topics like the two World Wars, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Imperialism, Capitalism, Socialism, Decolonization, Industrial and Agrarian Revolutions, Cold War, UN, etc. are comprehensively covered in this subject. If you are not satisfied with your 2013 attempt, go for British History.
Dear Guru
I am willing to take Philosophy and Political Science as optional subjects in CSS-2014. Are these subjects good-scoring? Also, please suggest some very good books on philosophy.
Altaf Majeed
Every subject is good’ scoring if you prepare well for the exam. Philosophy and Political Science are inter-related subjects and preparation of one helps in other subject as well. Both these subjects are considered highly theoretical and scores in these subjects have not been as high as Geography, British History, International Law, etc. However, if you prepare well, you can surely fetch good scores in these subjects. I would recommend you following books for your optional subjects:
Political Science:
1. For Paper I
a) Western Political Thought by Mujahid Farooq
b) Political Science: Theory and Practice by Mazharul Haq
2. For Paper II
a) Comparative Governments by Muhammad Sarwar
b) Constitutional Development in Pakistan by G.W
Chaudhary
c) World Constitutions by Kelley
Philosophy:
a) Introduction to Logic by I.M.Copi
b) History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
c) The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant
d) Muslim Philosophy by M. Saeed Sheikh
I want to have a clue as to expected essay topics for the upcoming CSS examination.
Akbar Babar
Dear Akbar,
It is too early to make a guess for topics of Essay for CSS 2014. However, you should focus on topics like women, governance issues, democracy, media, terrorism, corruption, education and rights of minorities, women and children in Pakistan. Try to explore these topics in detail focusing on each aspect and issue associated with them.
Dear Guru
For the Précis & Composition Paper, which books, in your view, are authentic and we should prefer them. The books you recommend should fulfil our needs in such a way that we don’t need to go through other material.
I also want to know that for current affairs, only Jahangir’s World Times is enough or we should also go through newspapers, especially Dawn?
Naveed Abbasi
Exploring the World of English by Syed Sadaat Ali has been the most popular choice of aspirants for Precis and Composition paper. I’d suggest you following books:
a) High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
b) General Certificate English by Dr. Alen Etherton
c) All About Competitive English by Prof. Muzaffar Bokhari
d) Discovering the World of English published by JBD Press
For current affairs, Besides Jahangir’s World Times and Dawn, you should also check online websites including:
1- www.newsweekpakistan.com
2- www.economist.com
3- www.foreignpolicy.com
4- www.spiegel.de/international
