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Tamil Tamil
Telugu Telugu
Urdu Persian
Bodo Devanagari
Dogri Devanagari
Maithilli Devanagari
Santhali Devanagari or Olchiki
Note 1: For Santhali language, question paper will be printed in Devanagari script; but candidates will be
free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchiki.
Note 2: For Manipuri Language, question paper will be printed in Bengali Script; but candidates will be
free to answer either in Bengali Script or in Meitei Mayek Script.

2. List of optional subjects for Main Examination:

(i) Agriculture
(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
(iii) Anthropology
(iv) Botany
(v) Chemistry
(vi) Civil Engineering
(vii) Commerce and Accountancy
(viii) Economics
(ix) Electrical Engineering
(x) Geography
(xi) Geology
(xii) History
(xiii) Law
(xiv) Management
(xv) Mathematics
(xvi) Mechanical Engineering
(xvii) Medical Science
(xviii) Philosophy
(xix) Physics
(xx) Political Science and International Relations
(xxi) Psychology
(xxii) Public Administration
(xxiii) Sociology
(xxiv) Statistics
(xxv) Zoology
(xxvi) Literature of any one of the following languages:
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam,
Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.

Note:
(i) The question papers for the examination will be of conventional (essay) type.
(ii) Each paper will be of three hours duration.
(iii) Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the Qualifying Language
Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
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Papers, Paper-A and Paper-B, in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the
Constitution of India or in English. Notwithstanding this, the Candidate will have the choice to write
the Optional Papers in English also if candidates opt to write Paper I-V except the Qualifying
Language Papers, Paper-A and Paper-B, in any one of the language included in the Eighth Schedule
to the Constitution of India.
(iv) Candidates exercising the option to answer Papers in any one of the languages included in the Eight
Schedule to the Constitution of India mentioned above may, if they so desire, give English version
within brackets of only the description of the technical terms, if any, in addition to the version in the
language opted by them. Candidates should, however, note that if they misuse the above rule, a
deduction will be made on this account from the total marks otherwise accruing to them and in
extreme cases; their script(s) will not be valued for being in an unauthorized medium.
(v) Candidates should note that if any irrelevant matter/signages/marks etc. are found written in the
answer script(s), which would not be related to any question/answer and/or would be having the
potential to disclose the candidate’s identity, the Commission will impose a penalty of deduction of
marks from the total marks otherwise accruing to the candidate or will not evaluate the said script(s)
on this account.
(vi) The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English
only.
(vii) The details of the syllabi are set out in Part B of Section III.

General Instructions (Preliminary as well as Main Examination):

(i) Candidates must write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be allowed the
help of a scribe to write the answers for them. However, The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the
categories of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected – BA) and cerebral palsy will be eligible for
the facility of scribe. In case of other category of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as defined under
section 2 (r) of the RPWD Act, 2016, such candidates will be eligible for the facility of scribe on production
of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical limitation to write, and scribe is essential
to write examination on behalf, from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a
Government Health Care institution as per proforma at. Appendix-V

Further, for persons with specified disabilities covered under the definition of Section 2(s) of the
RPwD Act, 2016 but not covered under the definition of Section 2(r) of the said Act, i.e. persons having less
than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing will be eligible for the facility of scribe subject to
production of a certificate to the effect that person concerned has limitation to write and that scribe is
essential to write examination on his/her behalf from the competent medical authority of a Government
healthcare institutio n as per proforma at Appendix-VII.

(ii) The candidates have discretion of opting for their own scribe or request the Commission for the
same. The details of scribe i.e. whether own or the Commission’s and the details of scribe in case candidates
are bringing their own scribe, will be sought at the time of filling up the application form online as per
proforma at. Appendix-VI. (for Candidates having 40% disability or more) and Appendix-VIII (for Candidates
having less than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing).

(iii) The qualification of the Commission’s scribe as well as own scribe will not be more than the minimum
qualification criteria of the examination. However, the qualification of the scribe should always be
matriculate or above.
Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
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(iv) The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both
arms affected-BA) and cerebral palsy will be eligible for Compensatory Time of twenty minutes per hour of
the examination. In case of other categories of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, such candidates will
be eligible for this facility on production of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical
limitation to write from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a Government
Health Care institution as per proforma at. Appendix-V

Further, for persons with specified disabilities covered under the definition of Section 2(s) of the
RPwD Act, 2016 but not covered under the definition of Section 2(r) of the said Act, i.e. persons having less
than 40% disability and having difficulty in writing will be eligible for compensatory time subject to
production of a certificate to the effect that person concerned has limitation to write from the competent
medical authority of a Government healthcare institution as per proforma at Appendix-VII.

(v) Facility of Scribe and/or Compensatory time to eligible candidates will be provided, if desired by
them.

Note (1): The eligibility conditions of a scribe and the conduct of scribe inside the examination hall and the
manner in which and extent to which the scribe can help the eligible candidates (as defined above) in writing
the Civil Services Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard.
Violation of all or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the candidate
in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.

Note (2): The criteria for determining the percentage of visual impairment shall be as follows:—
Better eye Worse eye Per Cent Disability category
Best Corrected Best Corrected Impairment
1 2 3 4
6/6 to 6/18 6/6 to 6/18 0% 0
6/24 to 6/60 10% 0
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 20% I
Less than 3/60 No Light 30% II (One eyed person)
Perception
6/24 to 6/60 Or 6/24 to 6/60 40% III a (low vision)
Visual field less than 40 up to 20 Less than 6/60 to 3/60 50% III b (low vision)
degree around centre of fixation or Less than 3/60 to No Light 60% III c (low vision)
heminaopia involving macula Perception
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 Or Less than 6/60 to 3/60 70% III d (low vision)
Visual field less than 20 up to 10 Less than 3/60 to No Light 80% III e (low vision)
degree around centre of fixation Perception
Less than 3/60 to 1/60 Or Less than 3/60 to No Light 90% IV a (Blindness)
Visual field less than 10 degree Perception
around centre of fixation
Only HMCF Only HMCF 100% IV b (Blindness)
Only Light Perception, Only Light Perception,
No Light perception No Light perception

Note (3): The concession admissible to blind candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from
Myopia.
(i) The Commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the
examination.
(ii) If a candidate’s handwriting is not easily legible, a deduction will be made on this account from
the total marks otherwise accruing to the candidate.

Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
 29

(iii) Marks will not be allotted for mere superficial knowledge.

(iv) Credit will be given for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of
words in all subjects of the examination.
(v) In the question papers, wherever required, SI units will be used.
(vi) Candidates should use only International form of Indian numerals (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc.) while
answering question papers.
(vii) Candidates will be allowed the use of Scientific (Non-Programmable type) Calculators at the
conventional (Essay) type examination of UPSC. Programmable type calculators will however
not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair means
by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall is not
permitted. It is also important to note that candidates are not permitted to use calculators for
answering objective type papers (Test Booklets). They should not therefore bring the same inside
the Examination Hall.

C. Interview/Personality Test
The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of the
candidate’s career. The candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the
Interview/Personality Test is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service
by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The Interview/Personality Test is intended to judge the
mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only intellectual qualities
but also social traits and interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness,
critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of
interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

2. The technique of the Interview/Personality Test is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a
natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the
candidate.

3. The Interview/Personality Test is not intended to be a test either of the specialized or general knowledge
of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to
have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events
which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern
currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.

Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.
 30

SECTION III: SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION

Note: Candidates are advised to go through the Syllabus published in this Section for the Preliminary
Examination and the Main Examination, as periodic revision of syllabus has been done in several subjects.

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks) Duration: Two 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, etc.
 General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require
subject specialization.
 General Science.

Paper II-(200 marks) Duration: Two hours

 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);
Note 1: Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with
minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Note 2: The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.

Note 3: It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Preliminary)
Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does
not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.

Part B—Main Examination

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding
of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.

The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such
that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will
be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a
career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant
issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands.
The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.