New Delhi: In a major step towards changing the pattern for the civil services entrance exams, the Union Public Service Commission on Monday announced a new syllabus for the preliminary exam, replacing the optional subject with an aptitude test.

The new syllabus, applicable for the 2011 exams, will have two papers. The first will be General Studies, which includes current events, Indian history, geography, polity, economic and social development, general issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change - not requiring subject specialization - and General science.

The second paper, which will be the aptitude test, will include aptitude skills including comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, decision making and problem solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy and English language comprehension skills of class 10th level.

The second paper for the prelims earlier consisted of questions from one of the optional subjects to be selected from the prescribed optional subjects. IANS