Comprehensive Syllabus Breakdown

UPSC Mains Detailed Syllabus

Complete breakdown of all papers with links to study materials

UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination Syllabus

The UPSC Mains examination consists of 9 papers conducted over 5 days. Below is the detailed syllabus for each paper along with links to relevant study materials.

Jump to Specific Papers

Essay
GS Paper I
GS Paper II
GS Paper III
GS Paper IV
Optional Subject
Language Papers
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Paper I: Essay

Study Materials Previous Papers

General Guidelines

  • 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
  • Credit will be given for effective and exact expression

Essay Topics

  • Topics will be from current affairs, philosophical, social, political, economic issues
  • Both abstract and concrete topics
  • Choice will be given between multiple topics

Paper II: General Studies I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society)

Study Materials Previous Papers

Indian Culture

  • Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times

Modern Indian 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 Consolidation

  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

World History

  • History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars
  • Redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization
  • Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.

Indian Society

  • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
  • Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues
  • Poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism

Geography

  • Salient features of world's physical geography
  • Distribution of key natural resources across the world
  • Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, volcanic activity, cyclone etc.
  • Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features

Paper III: General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations)

Study Materials Previous Papers

Indian Constitution

  • Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
  • Basic structure doctrine
  • Comparison of Indian constitutional scheme with other countries

Indian Polity

  • Functions and responsibilities of Union and States
  • Issues and challenges pertaining to federal structure
  • Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
  • Separation of powers, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

Governance

  • Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
  • E-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, potential
  • Citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional measures
  • Role of civil services in a democracy

Social Justice

  • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
  • Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for protection of vulnerable sections
  • Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
  • Issues relating to poverty and hunger

International Relations

  • India and its neighborhood- relations
  • Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
  • Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests
  • Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Paper IV: General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management)

Study Materials Previous Papers

Economic Development

  • Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
  • Government Budgeting
  • Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country
  • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices
  • Food processing and related industries in India
  • Land reforms in India
  • Effects of liberalization on the economy
  • Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
  • Investment models

Science & 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 fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
  • Issues relating to intellectual property rights

Biodiversity & Environment

  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • 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
  • Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Paper V: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)

Study Materials Previous Papers

Ethics and Human Interface

  • Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions
  • Dimensions of ethics
  • Ethics in private and public relationships

Attitude

  • Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior
  • Moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion

Aptitude

  • 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 of emotional intelligence
  • Utilities and application in administration and governance

Public/Civil Service Values

  • 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

Case Studies

  • Approach to solving ethical dilemmas
  • 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

Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject (Paper I & II)

Study Materials Subject List

About Optional Subjects

  • Candidates may choose any one optional subject from the list of subjects offered
  • Each optional subject has two papers (Paper VI & VII)
  • Each paper is of 250 marks making total 500 marks for optional subject

List of Optional Subjects

  • Agriculture
  • Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
  • Anthropology
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Commerce and Accountancy
  • Economics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • History
  • Law
  • Management
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Science
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Zoology
  • Literature of any one language (Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English)

Note

  • The syllabus for each optional subject is extensive and detailed
  • Select the optional subject carefully based on interest, background and availability of study material
  • Click on "Subject List" above to view detailed syllabus for each optional subject

Paper A & B: Indian Language & English

Study Materials Detailed Syllabus

Paper A: Indian Language (Qualifying)

  • One of the Indian languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution
  • Candidate needs to qualify this paper (minimum 25% marks required)
  • Marks obtained not counted for final ranking
  • Comprehension of given passages
  • Precis Writing
  • Usage and Vocabulary
  • Short Essay
  • Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa

Paper B: English (Qualifying)

  • Candidate needs to qualify this paper (minimum 25% marks required)
  • Marks obtained not counted for final ranking
  • Comprehension of given passages
  • Precis Writing
  • Usage and Vocabulary
  • Short Essay

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