UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PART A – PRELIMINARY (PRELIMS) EXAMINATION

CSE Prelims exam consists of two papers of objective type, each of 200 marks (total of 400
marks) and two hours of duration each and candidates must take both the papers.
Page | 1
The preliminary examination is meant for screening the candidate and the marks obtained by
a candidate in the prelims who qualifies to the mains exam are not to be taken in account to
determine their final merit.

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 NOTE on Preliminary
Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Examination:

 Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, 1. Paper II will be a

Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc. qualifying paper with
minimum qualifying
 General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change marks fixed at 33%.
- that do not require subject specialization. 2. The questions will be of
Multiple choice, Objective
 General Science.
type
3. It is mandatory for the
candidate to appear in
PAPER II - (200 marks) – Duration: Two hours both the Papers of Civil
Services Examination for
 Comprehension the purpose of
evaluation. Therefore a
 Interpersonal skills including communication skills
candidate will be
 Logical reasoning and analytical ability disqualified in case
he/she not appear in both
 Decision-making and problem solving the papers of Civil
Services (Prelim)
 General mental ability Examination.

 Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data
interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. -Class X level)

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PART B – MAIN EXAMINATION

The main examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of the understanding Page | 2
of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.

The General Studies papers (Paper II (GS Paper1) to Paper V (GS Paper4) will have questions 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.

QUALYFYING PAPERS – INDIAN LANGUAGES and ENGLISH

The aim of the paper is to test the candidate’s ability to read and understand Note: The qualifying papers
serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in will be of Matriculation or
English and Indian Language concerned. equivalent standard and
marks obtained in these
The pattern of the questions broadly would be: papers are not counted for
ranking.
Comprehension | Precis Writing | Usage and Vocabulary | Short Essays |
Translation

PAPER – I OF THE MAINS EXAM

ESSAY (250 MARKS)

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 orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be
given for effective and exact expression.

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PAPER – II OF THE MAINS EXAM

GENERAL STUDIES – I (250 MARKS)

Indian Heritage and Culture | History and Geography of the World and Society
Page | 3
 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.

 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 world's physical geography.

 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian
sub-continent); 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.

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PAPER – III OF THE MAINS EXAM

GENERAL STUDIES – II (250 MARKS)

Governance | Constitution | Polity | Social Justice | International relations

Page | 4
 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, 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

 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

Education, Human Resources.
www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

 Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-

applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
Page | 5

 Role of civil services in a democracy.

 India and its neighborhood- relations.

 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's
interests

 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian
Diaspora.

 Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PAPER – IV OF THE MAINS EXAM

GENERAL STUDIES – III (250 MARKS)

Technology | Economic Development | Biodiversity | Environment |

Page | 6
Security & Disaster Management

 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 technology.

 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology

and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

 Disaster and disaster management.

 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

Page | 7
 Role of external state and non state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering
and its prevention

 Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with
terrorism

 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

www.crackIAS.com
 UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION (IAS) SYLLABUS: PRELIMS & MAINS

PAPER – V OF THE MAINS EXAM

GENERAL STUDIES – IV (250 MARKS)

Ethics | Integrity | Aptitude

Page | 8
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 utilize the case study approach to determine
these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.

 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 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.

 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, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery,
Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

 Case Studies on above issues.

www.crackIAS.com