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UPSC Syllabus
UPSC Syllabus
There are two Parts of UPSC IAS or IPS examination. The first is the Preliminary Examination and
the second in the Main Examination. The Preliminary Examination is just to decrease the crowd.
The Main Examination is considered for merit listing. So here is the syllabus
• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
• Decision-making and Problem Solving
• General Mental Ability
• Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation up to 10th Class Level
• English Language Comprehension Skills
Paper 1
Essay: Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will
be given. They will be expected to keep close 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.
Paper 2 - General Studies 1 - Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the
World and Society
• Indian culture - Art forms, Literature, and Architecture from Ancient to Modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th century until the resent significant
events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle - various stages and important contributors 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
• Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization and their problems and their remedies.
• Effect of Globalization on Indian Society.
• Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism and Secularism.
• Salient features of World's Physical Geography.
• Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the World including South Asia and Indian
Subcontinent.
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic Activity,
Cyclone, etc.
• Indian Constitution
• Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues, and challenges to the
federal structure.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institution
• Comparison of the Indian Constitution scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State Legislatures
• Structure, Organisation, and functioning of the Execute and the Judiciary Ministries and
Department of the Government.
• Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
• Appointment of various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities.
• Statutory, Regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sector and issues arising
out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups, and associations.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes, mechanisms, laws, institutions.
• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications,
models, successes, limitations, and potential.
• Role of Civil Services in Democracy.
• India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
• Bilateral, Regional and Global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India's interests.
• Effects of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's Interests,
Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora-their structure, mandate.
Paper 4 General Studies 3 - Technology, Economic Development, Bio Diversity, Environment,
Security and Disaster Management
• 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 of teachings and great leaders, reformers, and administrators, the role
of family, society and educational institution in inculcating values.
• Attitude: Content, Structure, Function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior,
moral and political attitudes, social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundation values for Civil Services, 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 Indian and World.
• Public/Civil Service values and Ethics in Public Administration - Status and Problems,
accountability and ethical governance, ethical issues in international relations and funding,
corporate governance
• 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, Code of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work Culture, Quality of service delivery,
Utilization of Public Funds, Challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on the above issues.
Candidate can select any one subject for opting Paper 6 and Paper 7.