The official website www.upsc.gov.in stands as the gateway for aspirants preparing for competitive examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. A treasure trove of information, the website hosts a wealth of resources, including detailed syllabi for various examinations. For aspirants gearing up for prestigious exams like the Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, and more, www.upsc.gov.in serves as an indispensable tool, providing comprehensive insights into the syllabus, exam pattern, and selection process.
- Introduction
Exam Pattern & Syllabus for UPSC Prelims
IAS Prelims is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination. More than 11 lakhs candidates applied for UPSC Prelims in 2023 whereas around 10 lakh candidates applied for the same in 2022.
It is vital to know the syllabus for IAS Prelims as it is the screening test that qualifies candidates for the another arrange, i.e. Mains. All UPSC Exam applicants must acclimate themselves with the exam pattern and IAS Exam syllabus to begin with, and after that move on with the preparation.
Aspirants preparing for UPSC 2024 must begin preparing for the Civil Services exam in February 2023. One year of preparation could be a must thing if aspirants want to score well in UPSC 2024 exam. This timeline of nearly a year is vital if you need to have a arranged and smooth planning stage where you can fortify your concepts and clarify all doubts related to topics.
| Exam Pattern & Syllabus for UPSC Prelims | |
| Two Compulsory Papers | General Studies Paper-I |
| General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) | |
| Number of Questions asked in GS Paper-I | 100 |
| Number of Questions asked in CSAT | 80 |
| Total Number of Marks | 400;
|
| Negative Marking | ⅓ of the total marks allotted to the question will be deducted for every wrong answer |
| Time Allotted | Two hours each;
|
The two papers of the IAS prelims are discussed in detail below:
- General Studies
- The General Studies test is the first paper of the preparatory examination.
- This test is planning to test the general awareness of a candidate in a wide run of subjects that incorporate: Indian Polity, Topography, History, Indian Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Environment, Universal Relations and associated UPSC current affairs.
- Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) (Generally conducted between 2:30 PM and 04:30 PM)
- This UPSC Prelims syllabus for CSAT intends to assess the inclination of the candidate in solving âReasoning and Analyticalâ questions, separated from âReading Comprehensionâ and the every so often inquired âDecision Makingâ questions.
- The âDecision Makingâ based questions are by and large absolved from negative marks.
UPSC Syllabus for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)
UPSC Syllabus for General Studies Paper (Prelims Paper I)
The General Studies Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination covers a wide range of topics aimed at assessing candidates’ general awareness and understanding of diverse subjects. Here’s an overview of the syllabus:
1. Current events of national and international importance:
- The syllabus includes questions on recent developments in national and international spheres, covering areas such as politics, economics, science and technology, sports, and culture.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement:
- Questions in this section focus on significant events, personalities, and movements in Indian history, ranging from ancient to modern times, with an emphasis on the Indian National Movement for independence.
3. Indian and World Geography:
- This section covers physical, social, economic geography of India and the world, including topics such as physical features, climate, agriculture, industry, transportation, and population distribution.
4. Indian Polity and Governance:
- The syllabus includes questions on the Indian Constitution, political system, governance, public administration, Panchayati Raj, urban local bodies, and key institutions of governance.
5. Economic and Social Development:
- Questions in this section assess candidates’ understanding of various aspects of Indian economy, social issues, and developmental initiatives. Topics include poverty, unemployment, social sectors, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change:
- This section covers environmental conservation, biodiversity, climate change, and related issues, with an emphasis on current challenges and conservation efforts.
7. General Science:
- The syllabus includes questions on basic concepts of science and technology, focusing on topics such as physics, chemistry, biology, and recent advancements in these fields.
UPSC Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)
UPSC Syllabus for Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT Paper II)
The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II is the second paper of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and is designed to assess candidates’ comprehension, analytical ability, and decision-making skills. Here’s an overview of the syllabus:
1. Comprehension:
- Candidates are tested on their ability to comprehend passages from English language and make meaningful interpretation of the given information.
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills:
- This section assesses candidates’ ability to communicate effectively and engage in interpersonal interactions, including understanding social dynamics and behavioral patterns.
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability:
- Questions in this section test candidates’ ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and draw logical conclusions. Topics may include analogies, syllogisms, logical deductions, and data interpretation.
4. Decision-making and problem-solving:
- Candidates are evaluated on their ability to make sound decisions and solve problems efficiently. Questions may involve scenarios requiring prioritization, logical reasoning, and critical thinking.
5. General mental ability:
- This section assesses candidates’ general mental ability, including numerical ability, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. Questions may cover topics such as numerical calculations, series completion, and spatial visualization.
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
- Candidates are tested on their understanding of basic numerical concepts and their ability to work with numbers, including arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.
7. Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.):
- Questions in this section require candidates to interpret data presented in various forms, such as charts, graphs, tables, and diagrams, and draw conclusions based on the information provided.
UPSC Syllabus for Mains
UPSC Syllabus for Mains
IAS Mains Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper-I | Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice) | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper I | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper II | 250 |
IAS Syllabus for UPSC Mains GS-I
General Studies‐I is also called Paper-II of UPSC Mains. It covers – Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. The detailed UPSC Syllabus for this paper is given below:
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- 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 and reorganization within the country.
- 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.— their forms and effect on the society.
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
IAS Syllabus for Mains GS-II
General Studies-II is also called Paper-III of UPSC Mains. It majorly covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Equity and Universal relations. The nitty gritty UPSC syllabus for this paper is given underneath:
- Constitution of India âhistorical underpinnings, evolution, highlights, amendments, critical provisions and basic structure.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the government structure, devolution of powers and accounts up to local levels and challenges in that.
- Partition of powers between various organs dispute redressal components and educate.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
- Parliament and State legislaturesâstructure, working, conduct of trade, powers & benefits and issues emerging out of these.
IAS Syllabus for Mains GS-III
General Studies-III is also called Paper-IV of the UPSC Mains. The major topics covered are Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. The nitty gritty UPSC syllabus for this paper is given below:
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of assets, growth, development and business.
- Inclusive growth and issues emerging from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the nation, â distinctive sorts of water system and water system frameworks capacity, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related limitations; e-technology in the help of farmers.
- Issues related to coordinate and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support costs; Open Conveyance System– objectives, functioning, restrictions, patching up; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Innovation missions; financial matters of animal-rearing.
UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects
UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects
The UPSC Mains syllabus gives a list of 48 Optional Subjects which incorporate Writing of different languages. Candidates need to choose any one of the âOptional Subjectsâ from the list of subjects given below:
| IAS Optional Syllabus | UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects | |
| Agriculture – UPSC Syllabus | Zoology – UPSC Syllabus |
| Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Assamese (Literature) |
| Anthropology – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Bengali (Literature) |
| Botany – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Bodo (Literature) |
| Chemistry – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Dogri (Literature) |
| Civil Engineering – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Gujarati (Literature) |
| Commerce & Accountancy – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Hindi (Literature) |
| Economics – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Kannada (Literature) |
| Electrical Engineering – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Kashmiri (Literature) |
| Geography – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Konkani (Literature) |
| Geology – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Maithili (Literature) |
| History – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Malayalam (Literature) |
| Law – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Manipuri (Literature) |
| Management – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Marathi (Literature) |
| Mathematics – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Nepali (Literature) |
| Mechanical Engineering – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Odia (Literature) |
| Medical Science – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Punjabi (Literature) |
| Philosophy – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Sanskrit (Literature) |
| Physics – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Santhali (Literature) |
| Political Science & International Relations – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Sindhi (Literature) |
| Psychology – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Tamil (Literature) |
| Public Administration – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Telugu (Literature) |
| Sociology – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – English (Literature) |
| Statistics – UPSC Syllabus | IAS Syllabus – Urdu (Literature) |
UPSC Syllabus for IAS Interview
UPSC Syllabus for IAS Interview (Personality Test)
The IAS Interview, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It aims to assess the candidate’s personality, leadership qualities, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Here’s an overview of the syllabus for the IAS Interview:
1. General Awareness:
- Candidates are expected to have a broad understanding of current national and international affairs, including political, economic, social, and cultural issues. They should be able to express informed opinions on a wide range of topics.
2. Analytical Ability:
- The interview panel may ask candidates to analyze complex situations, evaluate options, and propose solutions to hypothetical or real-life problems. Candidates should demonstrate critical thinking, logical reasoning, and sound judgment.
3. Communication Skills:
- Effective communication is crucial for success in the IAS Interview. Candidates should be able to articulate their thoughts clearly and coherently, using appropriate language and tone. They should also be attentive listeners and able to engage in meaningful dialogue with the interview panel.
4. Leadership and Decision-Making:
- Candidates may be questioned about their leadership experiences, decision-making abilities, and management skills. They should be able to demonstrate instances where they have taken initiative, motivated others, and demonstrated effective leadership qualities.
5. Ethical and Moral Integrity:
- The interview panel may assess candidates’ ethical and moral values, integrity, and sense of responsibility towards society. Candidates should be prepared to discuss ethical dilemmas and demonstrate their commitment to upholding ethical standards in public service.
6. Knowledge of the Constitution and Governance:
- Candidates should have a thorough understanding of the Indian Constitution, governance structures, administrative processes, and public policies. They should be aware of the role and responsibilities of civil servants in a democratic society.
7. Personality Traits:
- The interview panel evaluates candidates based on various personality traits such as confidence, adaptability, empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Candidates should present themselves authentically and demonstrate their suitability for the IAS.
Conclusion
FAQ's
The UPSC website provides syllabi for various competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), including the Civil Services Examination, Engineering Services Examination, and more.
Yes, the syllabi on the UPSC website are updated periodically to reflect any changes or revisions, ensuring that aspirants have access to the most relevant and up-to-date information.
In addition to the syllabus, the UPSC website often provides supplementary resources such as previous years’ question papers, exam notifications, and preparation tips to aid aspirants in their exam preparation.
