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
Paper I: Essay
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
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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