Asst. Prison Officer Syllabus: Direct Recruitment Exam Pattern

Are you aspiring to join the Prisons Department as an Assistant Prison Officer or Female Assistant Prison Officer through Direct Recruitment? Understanding the detailed syllabus and exam pattern is the first crucial step towards success. This comprehensive guide breaks down the official syllabus, subject-wise mark distribution, and key topics you need to master for the upcoming selection process. Prepare effectively by knowing exactly what to study!

Important Dates

Eligibility Criteria

The official notification for Assistant Prison Officer/Female Assistant Prison Officer (Prisons) Direct Recruitment does not contain details regarding specific eligibility criteria such as age limit, educational qualifications, or physical standards. Candidates are advised to refer to the full recruitment notification on the official website for comprehensive eligibility requirements.

Application Process & Fees

Details regarding the application process, steps to apply online, required documents, and application fees for the Assistant Prison Officer/Female Assistant Prison Officer (Prisons) Direct Recruitment are not provided in this detailed syllabus document. Please consult the complete recruitment notification for this information.

Vacancies

The number of vacancies for the Assistant Prison Officer/Female Assistant Prison Officer (Prisons) posts is not specified in this syllabus notification. Candidates should check the official recruitment advertisement for vacancy details.

Selection Process

While this document outlines the detailed syllabus for selection, the complete selection process (e.g., written exam, physical efficiency test, interview, document verification) is not fully detailed here. However, the syllabus clearly indicates a written examination component. For a complete understanding of the selection stages, refer to the official recruitment notification.

Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern

The selection process for the Assistant Prison Officer/Female Assistant Prison Officer (Prisons) Direct Recruitment will include a written examination covering various subjects. The detailed syllabus and mark distribution are provided below:

I. General Knowledge (പൊതുവിജ്ഞാനം) – 40 Marks

1. History (ചരിത്രം) – 5 Marks

• Kerala: Arrival of Europeans, their contributions, Travancore history (Marthanda Varma to Sree Chithira Thirunal), Social, Religious, Renaissance movements, National movements in Kerala, Literary sources of Kerala history, Aikya Kerala movement, Socio-political history after 1956.
• India: Political history, British dominance, First War of Independence, Formation of Indian National Congress, Swadeshi movement, Social reform movements, Newspapers, Literature & Arts during Independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi, Post-Independence era, Reorganization of states, Progress in Science, Education & Technology, Foreign Policy.
• World: Great Revolution in England, American War of Independence, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Chinese Revolution, Post World War II political history, United Nations, other international organizations.

2. Geography (ഭൂമിശാസ്ത്രം) – 5 Marks

• Fundamentals of Geography: Earth’s structure, Atmosphere, Rocks, Earth’s surface, Atmospheric pressure & winds, Temperature, Seasons, Global issues, Global warming, Pollution types, Maps (Topographic maps, symbols), Remote sensing, Geographic Information System, Oceans, Ocean movements, Continents, World nations and their characteristics.
• India: Physiography, States and their characteristics, Northern mountainous region, Rivers, Northern plains, Peninsular plateau, Coastal region, Climate, Natural vegetation, Agriculture, Minerals & Industries, Energy sources, Transport systems (Road, Water, Rail, Air).
• Kerala: Physiography, Districts, Characteristics, Rivers, Climate, Natural vegetation, Wildlife, Agriculture & research institutions, Minerals & Industries, Energy sources, Transport systems (Road, Water, Rail, Air).

3. Economics (ധനതത്വശാസ്ത്രം) – 5 Marks

• India: Economic sector, Five-Year Plans, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, New Economic Reforms, Financial institutions, Agricultural crops, Minerals, Green Revolution.

4. Indian Constitution (ഇന്ത്യൻ ഭരണഘടന) – 8 Marks

• Constitution Drafting Committee, Preamble, Citizenship, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Fundamental Duties, Components of Government, Important Constitutional Amendments (42, 44, 52, 73, 74, 86, 91), Panchayati Raj, Constitutional bodies and their functions, Union List, State List, Concurrent List.

5. Kerala – Governance and Administration (കേരളം – ഭരണവും ഭരണസംവിധാനങ്ങളും) – 3 Marks

• Kerala State Civil Service, Constitutional bodies, various Commissions, Socio-economic-commercial planning information, Disaster Management Authority, Wetland conservation, Employment & Jobs, National Rural Employment Schemes, Land Reforms, Protection of Women, Children & Senior Citizens, Social Welfare, Social Security.

6. Biology & Public Health (ജീവശാസ്ത്രവും പൊതുജന ആരോഗ്യവും) – 4 Marks

• General knowledge about the human body.
• Vitamins & Minerals and their deficiency diseases.
• Communicable diseases and pathogens.
• Health & Welfare activities in Kerala.
• Lifestyle diseases.
• Basic health knowledge.
• Environment and environmental issues.

7. Physics (ഭൗതികശാസ്ത്രം) – 3 Marks

• Branches of Physics, Matter – Unit, measurements and scales.
• Motion – Newton’s laws of motion, Third law of motion – Momentum, Projectile motion, Applications of Third Law, ISRO’s space achievements.
• Light – Lens, Mirror, Mathematical problems using r=2f, various phenomena of light, Rainbow, various colors of objects, Electromagnetic spectrum (IR Rays, UV Rays, X-Rays), Photoelectric effect.
• Sound – Various types of waves, Speed of light in different media, Resonance, Reflection.
• Force – Various types of forces, Friction (uses & disadvantages), Liquid pressure, Buoyancy, Archimedes’ Principle, Pascal’s Law, Density, Relative density, Adhesion, Cohesion, Capillary action, Viscosity, Surface tension.
• Gravity – Centripetal force, Centrifugal force, Satellites, Escape velocity, Mass & Weight, Value of ‘g’ in different places on Earth.

8. Chemistry (രസതന്ത്രം) – 3 Marks

• Atom, Molecule – Various states of matter – Transformation, Gas laws, Aqua regia.
• Elements – Periodic table, Metals & Non-metals, Chemical reactions, Solutions, Mixtures, Compounds.
• Metals – Non-metals – Alloys, Acids & Alkalis – pH value – Alkaloids.

9. Art, Sports, Literature, Culture (കല, കായികം, സാഹിത്യം, സംസ്കാരം) – 4 Marks

• Art: Origin, spread, and training of major visual & auditory arts in Kerala. Famous places, institutions, personalities, artists.
• Sports: Major sports personalities in Kerala, India, and the world, their sports, achievements, and awards. Important awards (winners, fields), Major trophies (related competitions/sports), Major sports events (number of players), Important terms related to sports, Olympics (basic info, venues, successful athletes, India’s performance, Winter Olympics, Para Olympics), Asian Games, Afro-Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, SAFF Games (venues, countries, India’s performance, other facts), National Games, Games events (competitions, athletes, achievements), National sports/recreations of each country.
• Literature: Major literary movements in Malayalam (first works, authors), Major works and authors of each movement, Writers (pen names, aliases), Characters & works, Famous lines & works/authors, Major awards/honors (award-winning writers, works), Jnanpith award winners in Malayalam (related facts), Origin, growth, milestones of Malayalam cinema, major contributors, Malayalam cinema and national awards.
• Culture: Major festivals in Kerala, related places, famous festivals. Cultural centers in Kerala, places of worship, cultural leaders and their contributions.

II. Current Affairs (ആനുകാലിക വിഷയങ്ങൾ) – 10 Marks

Questions will cover recent events and developments of national and international importance.

III. Simple Arithmetic, Mental Ability & Observational Skills (ലഘുഗണിതവും, മാനസിക ശേഷിയും നിരീക്ഷണപാടവ പരിശോധനയും) – 10 Marks

1. Simple Arithmetic (ലഘു ഗണിതം) – 5 Marks

• Numbers and Basic Operations
• Fractions and Decimal Numbers
• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Ratio and Proportion
• Time and Distance
• Time and Work
• Average
• Laws of Exponents
• Perimeter, Area, Volume of Geometrical Shapes (Mensuration)
• Progressions

2. Mental Ability & Observational Skills (മാനസിക ശേഷിയും നിരീക്ഷണപാടവ പരിശോധനയും) – 5 Marks

• Series (Number series, Alphabet series)
• Problems on Mathematics Signs
• Position Test
• Analogy (Word Analogy, Alphabet Analogy, Number Analogy)
• Odd man out
• Number problems
• Coding and De Coding
• Family Relations
• Sense of Direction
• Time and Angles (Clock problems)
• Time in a clock and its reflection
• Date and Calendar
• Clerical Ability Test questions

IV. General English – 10 Marks

1. English Grammar – 5 Marks

• Types of Sentences and Interchange of Sentences.
• Different Parts of Speech.
• Agreement of Subject and Verb.
• Articles – Definite and Indefinite Articles.
• Uses of Primary and Modal Auxiliary Verbs
• Question Tag
• Infinitive and Gerunds
• Tenses
• Tenses in Conditional Sentences
• Prepositions
• The Use of Correlatives
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Active and Passive voice
• Correction of Sentences

2. Vocabulary – 5 Marks

• Singular & Plural, Change of Gender, Collective Nouns
• Word formation from other words and use of prefix or suffix
• Compound words
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Phrasal Verbs
• Foreign Words and Phrases
• One Word Substitutes
• Words often confused
• Spelling Test
• Idioms and their Meanings

V. Regional Languages (പ്രാദേശിക ഭാഷകൾ) – 10 Marks

Candidates can choose one of the following regional languages:

1. Malayalam (മലയാളം)

• പദശുദ്ധി (Word Purity)
• വാക്യശുദ്ധി (Sentence Purity)
• പരിഭാഷ (Translation)
• ഒറ്റപ്പദം (Single Word)
• പര്യായം (Synonyms)
• വിപരീത പദം (Antonyms)
• ശൈലികൾ പഴഞ്ചൊല്ലുകൾ (Idioms & Proverbs)
• സമാനപദം (Similar Word)
• ചേർത്തെഴുതുക (Combine and write)
• സ്ത്രീലിംഗം പുല്ലിംഗം (Feminine & Masculine Gender)
• വചനം (Number)
• പിരിച്ചെഴുതൽ (Separate and write)
• ഘടക പദം (വാക്യം ചേർത്തെഴുതുക) (Compound word – combine to form sentence)

2. Kannada (കന്നഡ)

• Word Purity / Correct Word
• Correct Sentence
• Translation
• One Word / Single Word / One Word Substitution
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Idioms and Proverbs
• Equivalent Word
• Join the Word
• Feminine Gender, Masculine Gender
• Number
• Sort and Write

3. Tamil (തമിഴ്)

• Correct Word
• Correct Structure of Sentence
• Translation
• Single Word
• Synonyms
• Antonyms / Opposite
• Phrases and Proverbs
• Equal Word
• Join the Word
• Gender Classification – Feminine, Masculine
• Singular, Plural
• Separate
• Adding Phrases

VI. Special Topics (തസ്തികകളുടെ ജോലി സ്വഭാവവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട വിഷയങ്ങൾ) – 20 Marks

These topics are related to the nature of the job:

• Kerala Prisons Department – Structure and Functioning (5 Marks)
• Human Rights Protection Act 1993 (5 Marks)
• Right to Information Act 2005 (5 Marks)
• Psychology – Basic Principles (5 Marks)
  • Human behavior and responses
  • Psychoanalytic theory
  • Aggression
  • Frustration
  • Mental stress
  • Anxiety
  • Individual and society
  • Adjustment
  • Motivation
  • Intelligence – Multiple Intelligence Theory

Note: Apart from the topics detailed above, questions from other topics prescribed for the educational qualification of the post may also appear in the question paper. There is no undertaking that all the topics above may be covered in the question paper.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: What is this syllabus for?

A1: This detailed syllabus is for the selection to the post of Assistant Prison Officer/Female Assistant Prison Officer (Prisons) through Direct Recruitment.

Q2: What are the main subjects covered in the exam?

A2: The main subjects include General Knowledge (History, Geography, Economics, Indian Constitution, Kerala Governance, Biology & Public Health, Physics, Chemistry, Art, Sports, Literature, Culture), Current Affairs, Simple Arithmetic & Mental Ability, General English, Regional Languages (Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil), and Special Topics related to the job.

Q3: What is the mark distribution for the different sections?

A3: The total marks for the exam are 100, distributed as follows: General Knowledge: 40 Marks, Current Affairs: 10 Marks, Simple Arithmetic & Mental Ability: 10 Marks, General English: 10 Marks, Regional Languages: 10 Marks, and Special Topics: 20 Marks.

Q4: Are regional languages compulsory?

A4: Yes, Regional Languages (Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil) are part of the syllabus with 10 marks. Candidates can usually choose one of these.

Q5: Where can I find details about the application process and important dates?

A5: This document is solely a syllabus. Details regarding the application process, important dates, eligibility criteria, and vacancies are not included here. Please refer to the official recruitment notification on the concerned government website for complete information.

Q6: Will all the topics mentioned in the syllabus definitely be covered in the exam?

A6: The notification states that there is no undertaking that all topics mentioned in the syllabus will be covered in the question paper. Additionally, questions from other topics prescribed for the educational qualification of the post may also appear.

Q7: What are the ‘Special Topics’ about?

A7: The ‘Special Topics’ section, worth 20 marks, covers subjects directly related to the job nature, including the Kerala Prisons Department’s structure and functioning, Human Rights Protection Act 1993, Right to Information Act 2005, and basic principles of Psychology.

Q8: Is there any information about negative marking?

A8: This syllabus document does not mention any details about negative marking. Candidates should check the full official notification for exam pattern specifics like marking scheme.