Understanding UPSC Syllabus is the most important part of UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation. UPSC publishes syllabi for CSE in it’s bulky notification every year.
“UPSC Syllabus is the holly bible for aspirants.”
-Every UPSC Topper
In this article, we have simplified latest UPSC Syllabus for Prelims, Mains and Interview. We’ve also provided a separate links to each Optional Subject Syllabus, PYQs, Booklist etc.
What’s UPSC Syllabus?
UPSC in it’s official notification gives a detailed list of topics that UPSC Aspirants needs to study from the exam perpective. This Syllabus comprises of Prelims Syllabus(GS and CSAT), Mains Syllabus (Essay, General Studies 1-4, Optional Paper) and Interview Requirements.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
Paper 1-General Studies (GS) Syllabus
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights, Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change-that do not require subject specialisation.
- General Science.
Paper 2-Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Syllabus
- Comprehension;
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
- Decision making and problem solving;
- General mental ability;
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)(Class X level)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)
People also asks
How many paper are there in UPSC Prelims?
Two. Paper 1 on General Studies and Paper 2 based on CSAT.
How many subjects are there in UPSC Prelims?
Two subjects, General Studies and CSAT but General Studies is further divided into multiple subjects like Art and Culture, Ancient and Medieval History, Modern History, Geography, Polity and Constitution, Economic Development, Science and Technology, Environment etc.
Which subjects are excluded from UPSC Prelims?
Subjects like Indian Society, Post Independence, World History, Governance, Disaster Management, Security and Ethics are excluded from UPSC Prelims.
UPSC Mains Syllabus
UPSC Say’s,
The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.
- The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well educated person will be able to answer them without any specialised study.
- The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.
- The questions are likely to test the candidate’s
- Basic understanding of all relevant issues.
- Ability to analyse.
- Take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands.
- The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.
Paper‐1: Essay
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected;
- To keep closely to the subject of the essay.
- To arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely.
- Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
Paper-2: General Studies‐1 (GS1)
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
Art and Culture from Ancient to Modern Times
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Modern History
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
- The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Post Independence
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.
World History
- History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
Indian Society
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- Role of women and women’s organisation, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and their remedies.
- Effects of globalisation on Indian society.
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Geography
- Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
- factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Paper-3: General Studies‐2 (GS2)
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Indian Constitution & Polity
- Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
- Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
- Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Social Justice
- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Government Schems
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Governance
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
- Role of civil services in a democracy.
International Relations
- India and its neighbourhood-relations.
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Paper‐4: General Studies‐3 (GS3)
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Econmic Development
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment.
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Land reforms in India.
- Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models.
Agriculture
- Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;
- e-technology in the aid of farmers.
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;
- Issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Science and Technology
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Environment
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Disaster Management
- Disaster and disaster management.
Security
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security;
- Money-laundering and its prevention.
- Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organised crime with terrorism.
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Paper‐5: General Studies‐4 (GS4)
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
General Information
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships.
- Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
- Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilisation of public funds, challenges of corruption.
- Case Studies on above issues.
People also asks
How many total marks are in the UPSC Exam?
The UPSC Mains Exam account for 1750 total marks. In this, marks of two compulsory paper on languages are NOT included as these papers are qualifying in nature.
What are compulsory subjects in UPSC mains?
Two. Compulsory paper on English and on regional language.
What are the 9 papers in UPSC?
There are 9 papers in the UPSC: 1 Essay paper, 4 general studies papers, 2 Compulsory paper on language and 2 optional papers.
How many subjects are there in UPSC Mains?
UPSC Mains have 4 general studies paper and 2 optional paper, which are further divided into different subjects. Like General studies paper 1 is divided into Art and Culture from Ancient to Modern times, Modern History, World History, Post Independence, Indian Society, Geography. Similarly General Studies paper 2 is divided among Polity and Constitution, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations and General Studies paper 3 is divided into Economic Development, Agriculture, Science and technology, Environment, Security etc. General Studies Paper 4 is completely dedicated to Ethics, Integrity and aptitude.
Qualifying Language Papers
The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language.
Paper A: English Languages
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precise Writing.
- Usage and Vocabulary.
- Short Essays.
Paper B: Indian Languages
- Comprehension of given passages.
- Precis Writing. Usage and Vocabulary.
- Short Essays.
- Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Please Note
- Two papers on Indian Languages and English are qualifying in nature and of matriculation/class 10th level or equivalent standard.
- The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
- The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
UPSC Interview Syllabus
What does UPSC Says,
“The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of the candidate’s career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest.
UPSC Notification
UPSC also gives a detailed requirements-
- The object of the Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers.
- The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
- The technique of the Interview/Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.
- The Interview/Personality Test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers.
- Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.”
FAQs
From where I can download UPSC Syllabus?
You can download UPSC Syllabus from https://upscmonk.in/upsc-syllabus/ or https://upsconline.nic.in
What is the General Studies (GS) syllabus?
The GS syllabus is divided into four papers:
- GS Paper I: Indian History and Indian Culture
- GS Paper II: Indian Constitution, Polity, International Relations, Social Justice and Governance
- GS Paper III: Economic Developmemt, Science and Technology, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
- GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
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