Answer to Question sent by Rituparna of Garia by sms

Rituparna's Question: Can any one get selected in the IAS if he/she has little knowledge of Economics/Indian Economics?
Answer: Probably not.
If you scan through the question papers of both Prelims and the Mains of the last five years, you will find that Indian Economics has become the Most Important Subject these days, both in the Prelims and in the Mains. This year 33 questions out of 100 in the GS Prelims are from Indian Economics. Therefore, if you do not study Indian Economics with special emphasis, there is little chance that you can make it.
Secondly, in the Mains, it is much more difficult. Last year, out of 600 marks GS Mains questions, 140-150 marks questions were from Indian Economics. Here, you need to express yourself by writing, that too within strict word limit. Economics, being a technical subject, you need to use technical terms like deflation, fiscal policy, speculative bubble, fiscal consolidation etc properly. A mere narration or description in your own non-technical words may not be appropriate for Economics. Since economics is given nearly 25% weight in GS Mains questions, it is almost impossible to get through the Mains without scoring reasonably high marks in economics.
Thirdly, if you see the English Essay papers of the previous years, you will find that several topics are from economics.
Fourthly, at the interview, you will definitely be asked questions on the recent trends in the Indian economics.
Therefore, study methodically, write more, get it checked.