IMPORTANT POINTS!

1. There is a negative marking of 1/3 marks for each wrong answer marked and no mark will be deducted for unanswered question.

2. In General Studies (Paper I) candidates will be awarded 2 marks for correct answer and 0.66 will be deducted for each wrong answer.

3. In CSAT (Paper II) candidates will be awarded 2.5 marks for each correct answer and 0.833 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer marked by the candidates.

5. The marks of Prelims exam will not be included in the included in the final result (merit list).

6. Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus: General Studies (Paper I)

1. Current Affairs (Events) of national and international importance.

2. History of India and Indian National Movement.

3. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.

6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change: that do not require subject specialization.

7. General Science

UPSC CSAT Syllabus (Paper II)

Candidates can check the IAS Prelims CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Syllabus given below. This section does need constant practice and reading articles, newspapers, solving as much as mock-tests would be of great help.

1. Comprehension.

2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills

3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability.

4.Decision-making and problem solving

5. General mental ability

6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).

UPSC Mains Syllabus

The candidates qualifying prelims exam will be eligible to appear for the Mains exam. It is the scoring and rank deciding stage of the exam process and candidates have to qualify in each paper. The Mains exam tests the candidate’s academic knowledge and their ability to present the understanding according to the requirements of the question in a time-bound manner.

Mains Exam Pattern

The Mains exam comprises of eight papers and candidates have to score minimum qualifying mark in each subject. English Language paper is of qualifying marks and rest of the papers will be scoring.

UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern

Paper	Subjects	Duration	Maximum Marks	Nature
Paper-A	English Paper	3 Hours	300 (25% for Qualifying)	Qualifying Only
Paper I	Essay	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper II	General Studies I	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper III	General Studies II	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper IV	General Studies III	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper V	General Studies IV	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper VI	Optional I	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Paper VII	Optional II	3 Hours	250	Scoring

IMPORTANT POINTS!!

1.There is one qualifying paper in the mains exam- “English Language Paper" of 300 marks.

2. Candidates need to score 25% in qualifying paper i.e., 75 marks.

3. All other seven papers are scoring in nature their marks will be included in the final merit list.

4.Candidates can answer all the scoring subject in English or any of the eight schedule language.

5. Candidates have to select any one subject from the table as their Optional subject for the Paper VI and Paper VII.

UPSC IAS Mains Optional Subjects List

Agriculture	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Anthropology	Botany	Chemistry
Civil Engineering	Commerce and Accountancy	Economics	Electrical Engineering	Geography
Statistics	Sociology	Physics	Philosophy	Medical Science
Paper III	General Studies II	3 Hours	250	Scoring
Political Science and International Relations	Public Administration	Psychology	Mechanical Engineering	Mathematics
Zoology	Geology	History	Management	Law
Literature of Hindi and English languages.

UPSC Mains Subject-wise Syllabus

English Language Paper:

(i) Comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Precis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

Essay Paper:

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.

UPSC Mains Syllabus: General Studies-I

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:

1. Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

2. Modern Indian history include the significant events, personalities, issues during the middle of the eighteenth century until the present

3. Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’

4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

5. History of the world includes events, forms and effect on the society from 18th century like world wars, industrial revolution, colonization, redrawal of national boundaries, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc

6. Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society

7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and remedies

8. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism

9. 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.

10. Effects of globalization on Indian society

11. 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 in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

12. Salient features of world’s physical geography.

UPSC Mains Syllabus: General Studies-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations:

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

2. 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

3. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

4. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

5. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these

6. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

7. 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

8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act

9. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

11. 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

12. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

14. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures

15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger

16. Role of civil services in a democracy

17. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

18. India and its neighborhood- relations

19. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

20. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian Diasporas.

UPSC Mains Syllabus: General Studies-III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:

General Studies III is all about the Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management and Nature. This paper can ask questions from every aspects of life, new development in any sphere of life.

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

2.Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

3.Government Budgeting.

4. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

5. 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

6. Economics of animal-rearing.

7. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

8. 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

9. Land reforms in India.

10. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

11. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

12. Investment models.

13. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science and technology;

14. Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.

15. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

16. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

17. Disaster and disaster management.

18. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

19. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

20. 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

21. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

22. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

UPSC Mains Syllabus: General Studies-IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude:

This paper includes questions to check the candidate attitude and approach towards the issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and their problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by them while dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects and covers area

1. Ethics and Human Interface- Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships

2. Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values

3. Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion

4. 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

5. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance

6. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world

7. 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 ingovernance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance

8. 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

9. Case Studies on above issues.

UPSC IAS Interview Test

Candidates who qualify the UPSC Mains Exam are called for the ‘Interview’ Test. Candidates are interviewed by a Board appointed by the UPSC.

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a board that will have before them a record of his/her career and interests filled by him/her in the Detailed Application Form (DAF).

2. The objective of the interview is to check the personal suitability of the candidate for the career in the civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.

3. In the personality test, apart from their academic study, candidates must be aware of the affairs happening both within and outside their state or country.

4. The interview is more of purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.

5. The Interview test will be of 275 marks and the total marks for written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks based on which the final merit list will be prepared.