UPSC Civil Services Examination – Detailed Syllabus
Preliminary Examination
Two papers - both objective type.
Paper I: General Studies (200 Marks, 2 Hours)
- 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
- General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
- General Science
Paper II: CSAT (200 Marks, 2 Hours) - Qualifying
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy and data interpretation (Class X level)
Main Examination
Total 9 Papers (Descriptive Type).
Paper A - Indian Language (300 Marks, Qualifying)
Paper B - English (300 Marks, Qualifying)
Paper I - Essay (250 Marks)
Paper II - General Studies I (250 Marks)
Paper III - General Studies II (250 Marks)
Paper IV - General Studies III (250 Marks)
Paper V - General Studies IV (250 Marks)
Paper VI - Optional Subject Paper I (250 Marks)
Paper VII - Optional Subject Paper II (250 Marks)
GS Paper I - History, Culture, Geography
- Indian Culture - Art forms, literature, architecture
- Modern Indian history & Freedom Struggle
- World History - Major events from 18th century
- Indian Society - Diversity, Role of women, Globalization, Social empowerment
- Geography - Physical, Economic, Human geography of India and World
GS Paper II - Polity, Governance, IR
- Constitution, Amendments, Features
- Separation of powers, tribunals
- Governance - Transparency, e-governance, Civil Services
- NGOs, SHGs, Pressure Groups
- India and Neighborhood Relations
- International Groupings & Agreements
GS Paper III - Economy, Tech, Environment, Security
- Indian Economy, Planning, Growth
- Agriculture - E-technology, Marketing
- Infrastructure - Energy, Roads, Ports
- Science & Technology - Recent developments
- Environment & Ecology
- Disaster Management
- Internal Security - Cybersecurity, Terrorism
GS Paper IV - Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude
- Ethics and Human Interface
- Attitude and Emotional Intelligence
- Public Administration Values
- Moral Thinkers and Philosophers
- Probity in Governance and Case Studies
Essay Paper
- Write 2 essays from given topics
- Should reflect clarity of thought, argument, coherence, and presentation
Optional Subjects (Examples)
One subject to be chosen - 2 Papers (250 marks each)
Popular Optionals:
- Geography
- History
- Psychology
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Sociology, PSIR, Anthropology
- Literature in Scheduled Languages
Interview / Personality Test
- 275 Marks
- Assesses: Critical Thinking, Communication, Judgment, Awareness, Personality