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Kerala PSC Child Development Project Officer (Women Only) – Women and Child Development
ശിശു വികസന പദ്ധതി ഓഫീസർ (വനിതകൾ മാത്രം) – വനിതാ ശിശു വികസന വകുപ്പ്
Degree level preliminary and main exams
- Syllabus sections
- 4
Mock Tests
Tests coming soon.
About the exam
About the post
- Department: Women and Child Development Department
- Category No: 025/2026
- Method: Direct Recruitment
- Pay scale: ₹50,200 – 1,05,300
- Vacancies: Anticipated
- Notification: Gazette 30 May 2026; last date to apply was 1 July 2026
Qualification
- Essential: Master's degree in Home Science, Social Work, Sociology or Psychology from a recognised university
- Preference: Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work recognised by the Government of India or the Government of Kerala
- Equivalent or higher qualifications declared by Government order are also accepted
Who can apply
- Women only
- Age: 25–45 (usual relaxations apply)
Always confirm the details in the official notification on keralapsc.gov.in before you apply or prepare.
Detailed syllabus for Child Development Project Officer (Women only) in the Women and Child Development Department, Category No. 025/2026. It is an objective multiple-choice test (OMR/online) for 100 marks at postgraduate level, with questions in English. At the previous recruitment it lasted 1 hour 30 minutes. There are four parts of 25 marks each: Sociology, Psychology, Home Science and Social Work. Questions may also come from other topics prescribed for the educational qualification of the post.
1Part I – Sociologyസോഷ്യോളജി (സാമൂഹ്യശാസ്ത്രം)11 topics25 marks›
Part I – Sociologyസോഷ്യോളജി (സാമൂഹ്യശാസ്ത്രം)
11 topics
- Origin and development of sociology: definition, sociological imagination, contributions of Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Simmel, expansion of sociology in the 20th century
- Sociological theories: structural functionalism, conflict perspective, interactionist and phenomenological schools (Blumer, Goffman, Husserl, Schutz), critical theory of Habermas, integrative theories (Giddens, Bourdieu), postmodern and post-structural theories (Foucault, Derrida)
- Sociology in India: scope and significance, Indological, Marxian and structural-functional perspectives
- Family, kinship and marriage: structural and functional variations, joint vs nuclear family debate, contemporary patterns
- Caste studies: Louis Dumont, Gail Omvedt, Ambedkar's subaltern perspective, Kancha Ilaiah
- Globalisation and development: historical and social context, features, social impact, rising inequalities
- Development and environment: depletion of water, land and minerals, development-induced displacement, pollution and waste management, deforestation, global warming
- Gender and development: gender auditing, poverty alleviation programmes, MGNREGS, women in Panchayati Raj, Kudumbashree
- Social problems: violence against women, children and the elderly, domestic violence, child abuse, POCSO Act, malnutrition, dowry, alcoholism, drug addiction, poverty, inequality, unemployment
- Exclusion and minorities: violence against minorities and backward communities, social exclusion and inclusion, historical and social roots of untouchability, problems of gender and sexual minorities, religious fundamentalism, communalism
- Social research methods: exploratory, descriptive and explanatory research, quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, applied, basic, action and participatory research, cross-sectional, longitudinal and case study designs, primary and secondary data, steps in research
2Part II – Psychologyസൈക്കോളജി (മനഃശാസ്ത്രം)9 topics25 marks›
Part II – Psychologyസൈക്കോളജി (മനഃശാസ്ത്രം)
9 topics
- Introduction to psychology: structuralism, behaviourism, Gestalt, biological, psychoanalytic, humanistic and cognitive approaches, observation, case study, survey and experimental methods
- Biological basis of behaviour: neuron, synapse, neurotransmitters, CNS, cerebral hemispheres and hemispheric specialisation, lobes, forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain, endocrine system and hormones, limbic system (hippocampus, amygdala), evolution and genes, localisation of language and perception
- Sensation, attention and perception: sensory thresholds, types and models of attention, subliminal perception, colour perception, cues, form and pattern perception, figure and ground, perceptual constancies, illusions, ESP
- Consciousness: biological rhythms, sleep and dreams, altered states of consciousness, meditation
- Learning and memory: classical, operant, cognitive and observational learning, encoding, storage and retrieval, sensory, short-term, long-term and working memory, semantic and episodic memory, explicit and implicit memory, forgetting (decay, interference, repression, amnesia), mnemonics
- Cognition, motivation and intelligence: images, concepts, prototypes, language, deductive and inductive reasoning, decision making, problem solving, needs, drives and incentives, hierarchy of needs, extrinsic and intrinsic motives, concepts of IQ, emotional intelligence
- Personality: approaches to personality, major ideas of Freud's theory, self-report and projective assessment
- Abnormal behaviour: DSM and ICD classification, normality and abnormality, ADHD, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders
- Social psychology: attribution, impression formation, social cognition, conformity, compliance, obedience, attitude formation and change, prejudice and discrimination, prosocial behaviour
3Part III – Home Scienceഹോം സയൻസ് (ഗൃഹശാസ്ത്രം)10 topics25 marks›
Part III – Home Scienceഹോം സയൻസ് (ഗൃഹശാസ്ത്രം)
10 topics
- Physiology and microbiology: digestive, cardiovascular and reproductive systems, food poisoning, food spoilage, foodborne infections (cholera, dysentery, botulism, salmonellosis), viral infections (AIDS, COVID-19, poliomyelitis), economic importance of moulds and yeast
- Prenatal development and birth: maternal nutrition and health, IUGR, stages of labour, normal, caesarean, breech and transverse births, preterm and low birth weight babies
- Neonate and infant care: characteristics, reflexes, APGAR test, milestones, breastfeeding, immunisation, infant feeding, WHO infant and young child feeding guidelines, first 1000 days, MBFHI
- Child welfare: play and its significance, discipline and guidance, family norms, family planning, sex education, STDs, children with special needs
- Human nutrition: balanced nutrition, RDA, fibre, macronutrients and micronutrients (role, sources, deficiency, toxicity)
- Dietetics and community nutrition: medical nutrition therapy for NCDs, fevers and diarrhoea (ORS), nutrition in pregnancy, lactation, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood and old age, community nutrition problems, national and international nutrition agencies, nutritional assessment
- Extension education: definition, principles and philosophy, formal and informal extension, poverty alleviation programmes of India, programme planning, execution and evaluation
- Communication and welfare: journalism, community radio, TV, traditional and folk media, NGOs, CSR, population growth and policies, welfare programmes for the aged, gender sensitisation
- Basic food science: cereals, pulses, nuts and oilseeds, vegetables and fruits, milk and milk products, meat, fish, egg and poultry, beverages and spices (composition, nutritive value, processed products, selection and storage)
- Food safety: nutrition labelling, FSSAI (objectives and role), food preservation, food adulteration, food additives
4Part IV – Social Workസോഷ്യൽ വർക്ക് (സാമൂഹിക പ്രവർത്തനം)11 topics25 marks›
Part IV – Social Workസോഷ്യൽ വർക്ക് (സാമൂഹിക പ്രവർത്തനം)
11 topics
- Social work: definition, meaning, purpose, goals and objectives, principles and assumptions, basic and auxiliary methods, tools, techniques and skills of a professional social worker, NASW Code of Ethics and standards of practice
- Human development: theories of Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg and Freud, biopsychosocial changes, developmental tasks and hazards from pregnancy to old age
- Social casework: definition, nature, objectives, scope, philosophy, principles and components, casework process (exploration, engagement, assessment and planning, implementation, goal attainment, termination, evaluation), skills and techniques
- Casework practice models: psychodynamic, behavioural, psychosocial, general systems, ecological, humanistic-existential
- Social group work: definition, objectives, scope, principles, group work process (intake, study, goal setting, intervention, evaluation), programme as a tool and programme planning, stages of group development, group work models, role, skills and qualities of the group worker
- Community organisation: definition, objectives, scope, principles, process (creating discontent, identifying and prioritising needs, designing interventions, mobilising resources, setting up organisation, implementation, evaluation), models (social planning, locality development, social action, neighbourhood development, systems and structural change)
- Social work administration: concept, principles and functions, tasks of an administrator, structure and functions of CSWB, SSWB and Department of Social Justice
- Social legislation: Probation of Offenders Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 2016, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, POCSO Act 2012, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, POSH Act 2013
- Protection at local level: role of social workers in women and child protection in local self-government, village-level child protection committees, Jagratha Samithi
- Kerala Social Security Mission schemes: Vayomithram, Snehasanthwanam, Sruthitharangam, Thalolam, Hunger Free City, Cancer Suraksha, Aswasakiranam, Prathyasa, Samashwasam
- Women and Child Development Department schemes: Abhayakiranam, Supplementary Nutrition Programme, Aswasanidhi, First 1000 Days, Mangalya, Sahayahastham, educational assistance for children of women-headed families, Sampushta Keralam, ICDS, ORC, Nirbhaya