The UPSC Civil Services Examination Syllabus is provided here for all aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services IAS Exam. We know that many candidates have been searching for the UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains syllabus. We advise all candidates to gather the complete UPSC syllabus from our website and start their preparation. To effectively prepare for the UPSC Exam, begin by noting down the topics listed in the UPSC CSE Syllabus PDF. Below, you will find information on the UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern, UPSC Mains Exam Pattern, and the UPSC Civil Services IAS Exam Syllabus. To facilitate your preparation for the IAS Prelims and Mains Exam, we have arranged the UPSC Syllabus PDF at the end of this post. Kindly download it and start your preparation now.
Contents
- 1 UPSC Syllabus Prelims & Mains
- 2 UPSC Civil Services Prelims, Mains Test Pattern
- 3 UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
- 3.1 UPSC Syllabus for CSE Prelims – General Studies (Paper I)
- 3.2 UPSC Prelims Syllabus – CSAT (Paper-II)
- 3.3 Penalty For Wrong Answers
- 3.4 UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern
- 3.5 Qualifying Papers:
- 3.6 UPSC Mains Syllabus – Paper – I
- 3.7 UPSC Mains Syllabus – General Studies I – Paper – II
- 3.8 IAS Mains Syllabus for General Studies II – Paper – III
- 3.9 UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies III – Paper – IV
- 3.10 UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies IV – Paper – V
- 3.11 UPSC IAS Mains Optional Subjects List – Paper – VI & Paper – VII
- 3.12 UPSC IAS Interview
- 3.13 How to Download UPSC Civil Services Syllabus?
- 4 UPSC Civil Services Syllabus Details
UPSC Syllabus Prelims & Mains
The UPSC Civil Services exam comprises three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interviews.
The Prelims consist of two papers. Paper 1 is on General Studies, worth 200 marks, and Paper 2 is an Aptitude test (CSAT), worth 100 marks. Each paper has a time duration of 2 hours.
The Mains stage includes 7 papers totaling 1750 marks, along with 2 qualifying papers, each worth 300 marks.
UPSC Civil Services Selection Process
- Preliminary Examination
- Mains Examination
- Personality Test (Interview)
UPSC Civil Services Prelims, Mains Test Pattern
Please read this article immediately to obtain accurate information about the UPSC Syllabus. We have compiled the complete UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern & UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern from the official site and organized the latest information in a tabular format. By referring to the table, you can easily access comprehensive information and devise the best strategy to score higher marks in the examination.
UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
The General Studies Paper I is the first paper of the preliminary examination. Paper II of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination is a qualifying paper with a minimum qualifying mark of 33%. Both papers are multiple-choice, objective type questions. Candidates must appear in both papers of the Civil Services Prelims Examination for evaluation. The Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Objective type) is conducted to select candidates for the Main Examination.
| Paper | Evaluation | Marks & Duration |
| General Studies – Paper I | Merit Ranking (in Prelims) | Marks: 200 Duration: 2 Hours |
| Aptitude test (CSAT) – Paper II | Qualifying Paper (33% min) | Marks: 200 Duration: 2 Hours |
UPSC Syllabus for CSE Prelims – General Studies (Paper I)
- Current Affairs (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.
- General Science
- 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 specialization.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus – CSAT (Paper-II)
- 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).
Penalty For Wrong Answers
- There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty.
- If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and there will be the same penalty as above for that question.
- If a question is left blank i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern
The written examination (main) will consist of the following nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for the final merit ranking. For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure the minimum marks prescribed by UPSC each year. The Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various Services and posts
| Qualifying Papers (Non-Ranking) | ||
| Paper A | One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. | 300 Marks |
| Paper B | English | 300 Marks |
| Papers to be Counted for Merit (Ranking) | ||
| Paper I | Essay | 250 Marks |
| Paper-II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 Marks |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) | 250 Marks |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 Marks |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 Marks |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject- Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject- Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
| For the optional papers in the Main Examination, UPSC has a list of about twenty-six subjects out of which anyone subject has to be selected by the candidate. | ||
| Subtotal (Written Test) | 1750 Marks | |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 Marks | |
| Grand Total | 2025 Marks | |
Qualifying Papers:
The pattern of questions in qualifying papers would be as follows :
- English Language:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays - Indian Language:
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
UPSC Mains Syllabus – Paper – I
Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
UPSC Mains Syllabus – General Studies I – Paper – II
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:
- Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian history includes significant events, personalities, and issues from the middle of the eighteenth century until the present
- Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
- History of the world includes events, forms, and effects on the society from the 18th century like world wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redraw of national boundaries, decolonization, and political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.
- Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and remedies
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
- 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
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
- Salient features of world’s physical geography.
IAS Mains Syllabus for General Studies II – Paper – III
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations:
- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges about the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
- Structure, organization 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
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
- 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
- Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger
- Role of civil services in a democracy
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
- India and its neighborhood- relations
- Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies III – Paper – IV
Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
- Government Budgeting.
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- 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
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
- 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.
- Land reforms in India.
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models.
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science and technology; Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
- Disaster and disaster management.
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
- 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
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies IV – Paper – V
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude:
- 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 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, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
- Case Studies on above issues.
UPSC IAS Mains Optional Subjects List – Paper – VI & Paper – VII
Candidate may choose any optional subject from amongst the List of Optional Subjects given below:
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Anthropology | Botany | Chemistry |
| Civil Engineering | Commerce and Accountancy | Economics | Electrical Engineering | Geography |
| Statistics | Sociology | Physics | Philosophy | Medical Science |
| Political Science and International Relations | Public Administration | Psychology | Mechanical Engineering | Mathematics |
| Zoology | Geology | History | Management | Law |
| Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English. | ||||
UPSC IAS Interview
- The objective of the interview is to assess the suitability of the candidate for a career in civil services
- The Interview test will be 275 marks and the total marks for the written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks, based on which the final merit list will be prepared.
How to Download UPSC Civil Services Syllabus?
Candidates can directly download the UPSC CSE Syllabus & Exam Pattern through the link provided below. To clear the exam, you must and should know the UPSC IAS Exam Syllabus topics for each subject first. So, click on the below link and get the UPSC Syllabus PDF – IAS Prelims and Mains Exam. You can also get the optional subject syllabus topics from the below PDF.
UPSC Civil Services Syllabus Details
| Organization Name | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post Name | Civil Services Examination |
| Category | Syllabus |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Site | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Syllabus Prelims & Mains Pdf Link
Download UPSC Civil Services Prelims, Mains Syllabus & Exam Pattern PDF