UPSC Syllabus for Paper-I – 200 marks

This objective paper is for a duration of two hours. There will be 100
questions. Marks of only this paper is counted to decide the toppers of the
preliminary exam. The syllabus of GS Paper 1 is given below.
 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, etc.
 General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate
Change – that do not require subject specialization.
 General Science.
UPSC Syllabus for Paper-II – 200 marks
This objective paper is for a duration of two hours. There will be 80 questions.
Marks of this paper is counted to decide the toppers of the preliminary exam.
This paper is only qualifying in nature. Aspirants just need to ensure that they
score at least 33% marks in this paper. The syllabus of GS Paper 2 (CSAT) is
given below.
 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).
1. Paper‐I: (Essay) – 250 Marks
In 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 an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be
given for effective and exact expression.
2. Paper‐2: (General Studies 1) – 250 Marks.
General Studies 1 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas: Indian Heritage and
Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. The detailed syllabus is given below:
General Studies 1 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains
 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities,
issues.
 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
 The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
 History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars,
 redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism,
 capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the 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.
 Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent);
 factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
 various parts of the world (including India)
 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.
3. Paper‐3: (General Studies 2) – 250 Marks
General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas:
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations. The detailed syllabus is given
below:
General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains
 Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
and basic structure.
 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.
 Separation of powers between various organs; dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
 Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these.
 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.
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
 Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
4. Paper‐4: (General Studies 3) – 250 Marks
General Studies 3 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas:
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
Detailed syllabus as provided by UPSC is as below:
General Studies 3 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains
•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, 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.
•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.
•Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management.
•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 & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
5. Paper‐5: (General Studies 4) – 250 Marks
General Studies 4 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas:
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. Details of the syllabus as provided by UPSC is as below: This paper will
include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in
public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with
society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad
areas will be covered:
General Studies 4 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains
•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 the 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.
.
6. Paper‐6: (Optional Subject Paper 1) –
250 Marks
7. Paper‐7: (Optional Subject Paper 2) –
250 Marks