The Union Public Service Commission [UPSC] conducts several recruitment examinations for various departments and services in the central government. This includes Engineering Services, Defense Services, Indian Economics Service, Indian Statistical Service, Central Armed Police Service, and the highly revered Civil Services. Within Civil Services, there are multiple Group-A and Group-B posts for which Upsc conducts exams including Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Revenue Service, amongst others. Regarded amongst the toughest exams in the world, there are only a few topics that might be left out of the vast UPSC syllabus.
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Exam Stages & Pattern
The Civil Services exam is carried through a three-stage process namely, Prelims, Mains, and Interview. While the prelims section tests the basic understanding of topics from an array of subjects like Science, Economics, Social Studies, etc, and aptitudes like verbal ability and comprehension, the Mains UPSC syllabus is much more advanced and comprehensive. The following sections shed more light on the complete exam pattern and the topics covered under each paper.
Prelims
| Paper | Type | Marks | Duration | Questions | NegativeMarking |
| General Studies-I | Qualifying [Not Counted towards Final Ranking], Candidates have to qualify for the cut-off as declared by the commission | 200 | 2 hours | 100 | ⅓ of the total marks |
| General Studies-II (CSAT) | Qualifying [Not Counted towards Final Ranking, i.e, only 33% marks required] | 200 | 2 hours | 80 | ⅓ of the total marks |
Must-Know Facts about UPSC Prelims
- Students pan-India except those who hail from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Mizoram, must select any Indian language mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution.
- Prelims marks are not added to the final merit list.
- The purpose of the preliminary exam is to only select candidates for the subsequent stages of the exam.
Mains
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper-II | General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper-III | General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper-IV | General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper I | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper II | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper VIII | Paper A-Indian Language* [Qualifying Paper] | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper IX | Paper B-English Language [Qualifying Paper] | 300 | 3 hours |
| Interview | Personality Test | 275 | – |
| – | – | 2025** | – |
Must-Know Facts about UPSC Mains
- The second phase of the Civil Services Exam is the Mains examination. Candidates wouldn’t be able to take the IAS Mains unless they had successfully passed the prelims test.
- The Mains exam assesses a candidate’s depth of academic competence and capacity to effectively and concisely communicate their grasp of a topic in a given amount of time.
- Nine exams make up the UPSC Mains exam, of which two are qualifying papers at 300 points each.
- Candidates have to appear for two qualifying exams consisting of Indian Language and English Language.
- Only those candidates will have their essays, general studies, and optional subject exams taken into consideration for review if they meet the minimum qualifying requirement of 25% on both language exams.
- The marks acquired by such candidates will not be taken into account or credited if they fail to qualify in these language examinations.
Also Read: NDA Exam Pattern
UPSC Syllabus Prelims
Comprising of two papers on general studies, the preliminary section of the Civil Services Exam acts as a screening test of candidates for eventual selection. Ranging from questions on current affairs, Indian and World Polity, Governance, History, and Basic Sciences to questions testing mental ability, communication and problem-solving skills, the UPSC Syllabus for prelims is vast and only a handful of candidates go through the next stage. Tabulated below are the topic covered under this level:
UPSC Syllabus for General Studies Paper (Prelims Paper I)
- General Science
- Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, etc
- General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
- Current Events of National and International Importance
- History of India and Indian National Development
- India and World Geography
- Economic and Social Development
UPSC Syllabus for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)
- General Mental Ability
- Logical Reasoning
- Decision Making and Problem-Solving
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication Skills
- Basic Numeracy
- Data Interpretation
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UPSC Syllabus Mains
Coming to the Mains section of the UPSC syllabus, it consists of 9 papers out of which the English Paper and Indian Language Paper are qualifying but securing at least 33% on both is necessary. Further, candidates need to select an optional subject on which two papers of 300 marks each shall be conducted.
| Paper | Topics |
| Essay | Topic-Based |
| General Studies I | Indian Heritage & Culture, Modern Indian History, Indian Society & Issues, Indian Flora & Fauna, Indian Industries World History & Geography, Disasters, etc |
| General Studies II | Indian Constitution, Union & States, Indian Political System- Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, Representation of People’s Act, Constitutional Bodies, Govt Policies & Welfare Schemes, Issues, International Issues and Relations, Transnational Institutions, etc |
| General Studies III | Indian Economy & its Issues-planning, development, mobilization of resources, growth and employment, land Reforms in India, Indian Infrastructure, Investment Models, Technological developments, Security Issues, Biodiversity, Environment, Disaster Management, etc. |
| General Studies IV | Ethics and HR, Emotional intelligence, Moral and Political Attitude, Contribution of leading Thinkers and Philosophers of the World, Public Service Values, Probity in Governance, Case Studies |
Optional Subject Paper I & II | Any One Subject from History; Geography; Economics; Sociology; Public Administration; Philosophy; Psychology; Political Science; Agriculture; Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science; Anthropology; Botany; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Commerce; Electrical Engineering; Geology; Law; Mathematics, Management; Mechanical Engineering; Medical Science; Physics; Statistics; Zoology or Literature {English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Punjabi Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Oriya, Nepali, Santhali, Manipuri, Marathi, Maithilli} |
| Paper A-Indian Language* [Qualifying Paper] | English, Hindi*, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Sanskrit*, Sindhi**, Punjabi Bodo*, Dogri*, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani*, Oriya, Nepali*, Santhali***, Manipuri, Marathi*, Maithili* *Devanagari** Devanagari or Arabic*** Devanagari or Olchiki [Question paper in Devanagari script but candidates can answer in either Devanagari or Olchiki] |
| Paper B-English Language [Qualifying Paper] | Essay, Reading Comprehension, Precis Writing, and Translation |
UPSC Syllabus IAS Interview
The last phase of the test is the UPSC Interview, often known as the personality test. There is no established UPSC interview syllabus. Numerous different topics are covered in the questions.
- The “Personality Test/Interview” is required for candidates who pass the UPSC Mains Exam. A Board chosen by the UPSC will interview these applicants.
- A panel of knowledgeable and objective observers will evaluate the candidate’s personal suitability for a career in the civil service during the interview.
- The interview is more of a purposeful discussion meant to probe the candidate’s mental capabilities and capacity for analysis.
- The written exam will have a maximum score of 1750 points, and the interview will be worth 275 points. This adds up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks, which will serve as the basis for creating the final merit list.
List of UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects
The UPSC Mains syllabus contains a list of 48 elective subjects, including literature in various languages. Candidates must select one of the “optional subjects” from the following list of subjects:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Economics
- Law
- Management
- History
- Mathematics
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Psychology
- Physics
- Medical Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Zoology, etc
Some Famous Subjects’ Syllabus
Public Administration Optional for UPSC
There are mainly two papers in the Public Administration optional for UPSC with Paper 1 having 12 and Paper 2 having 14 subjects.
| Public Administration Paper 1 – Administrative Theory | Public Administration Paper 2 – Indian Administration |
| Introduction | Evolution of Indian Administration |
| Administrative Thought | Philosophical and Constitutional Framework of Government |
| Administrative Behaviour | Public Sector Undertakings |
| Organizations | Plans and Priorities |
| Accountability | Union Government and Administration |
| Administrative Law | Civil Services |
| Development Dynamics | Financial Management |
| Comparative Public Administration | State Government and Administration |
| Public Policy | District Administration Since Independence |
| Personnel Administration | Administrative Reforms Since Independence |
| Technique of Administrative Empowerment | Rural Development |
| Financial Administration | Urban Local Government |
| Law and Order Administration | |
| Significant Issues in Indian Administration |
To know more, check out our blog on Public Administration Syllabus for UPSC
Economics Syllabus for UPSC
To crack the highest-paying government jobs in India, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of Economics for the UPSC syllabus. Glance through the detailed list of topics mentioned below;
| Main topics | Sub Topics |
| Economic Growth and Development | The basic concept and definition of economy and economics. Its uses and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and microeconomic policy, micro-macro balance, the distributive impact of economic policies, development versus growth, determinant of growth and development, concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII, TAI, Green index, sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices. |
| Poverty | Definitions, causes, distribution-deprivation, income versus calories, measurement of poverty, the status of poverty, eradication programs, poverty and resource policy, tribal rights and issues, livelihood mission. |
| Inclusion | Definition, relevance, types, financial inclusion, and recent initiatives. |
| Demographics | Census Data, populations by gender, state, by age group, socio-economic status, caste, religion, literacy levels, etc. Trends in human development – interstate comparison, etc. |
| Fiscal policy | Definition, component, receipts, revenue and capital account, tax revenue, expenditure, budget. |
| Features of the Indian Economy | Division of economic activities, poverty, unemployment, HDR, measures to eradicate poverty |
| Basic Economic Indicators | National income, price index, production, population, foreign trade |
| Population | Growth, census, consumption pattern (energy) |
| National income | Concepts, Methods of Calculation |
| Agriculture | Crops, seasons, agricultural credit agencies, Kisan Credit agencies, land reforms, insurance, green, white, blue, yellow revolutions, irrigation |
| Industry | Industrial policies (1948, 1956, 1991), small-scale industries, key industries, industrial sickness, the different committees, disinvestment, PSU policy, industrial finance |
| Foreign trade | Composition, direction, EXIM policy, WTO, the balance of payments, measures to improve foreign trade |
| Money and Banking | Money market, credit control (different rates), commercial banks, cooperative banks, NBFCs, committees, SEBI, stock market developments, the insurance industry, new banking sector reforms, money supply measures, inflation, deflation |
| Planning commission | Five-year plans |
| Public finance | Finance Commission, taxation, deficit financing, public spending, and debt |
Anthropology Syllabus UPSC
Anthropology is one of the important topics of UPSC and it’s important to know the syllabus for better preparation and building exam strategy. Here are some of the topics covered in the Anthropology syllabus for UPSC:
- Meaning, scope, and development of Anthropology.
- Relationship with other disciplines: History, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Life Science, Medical Science.
- Main branches of Anthropology, their scope, and relevance
- Human Evolution and the Emergence of Man
- Phylogenetic status, characteristics
- Principles of Prehistoric Archaeology. Chronology: Relative and Absolute Dating methods
- Characteristics of Primates
- The Nature of Society & Culture
- The biological basis of life
- Marriage, Family & Kinship
- Political Organization and Social Contro
Best Books for UPSC Syllabus
Following the correct study material and books is quintessential when you are preparing for such a prestigious examination. Here is a list of books that can help you cover all the important topics for UPSC:
| Indian Economy | Mishra-Puri, Dutt-Sundaram | Buy Here |
| The Economics of Development & Planning | M. L. Jhingan | BuyHere |
| International Economics | H.G. Mannur | Buy Here |
| Public Finance | H.L. Bhatia | Buy Here |
| Money and Banking | S.B.Gupta | Buy Here |
| Macroeconomic Theory | M. L. Jhingan | Buy Here |
| New Horizons of Public Administration | Mohit Bhattacharya | Buy Here |
| Public Administration | Fadia and Fadia | Buy Here |
| Public Administration In India 1st Edition | Maheshwari | Buy Here |
Click Here for UPSC Syllabus PDF in Hindi
Note: You can access the previous year question papers from the official website of UPSC
After successfully clearing both Prelims and Mains, a candidate has to appear for an Interview where the board members assess the overall personality of the candidates, their communication skills and decision-making, and intellectual understanding. Further, the attitude and mental resolve to tackle difficult situations is also major component of the interview.
FAQs
The candidate must pay Rs. 100 application forms. The exception applies to SC/ST/PH categories and female candidates.
Yes, the PDF collates the preliminary, mains, and options subjects syllabus.
The syllabus is published in English/Hindi languages. It can be downloaded in these two languages only.
For general and OBC category students, they can attempt it by 6 times and for EWS category students can attempt the UPSC exam by 9 times.
The seemingly limitless UPSC syllabus is enough to send even professors into a frenzy. Needless to say, it requires a well-planned approach to successfully cover the topics. If you are someone who wants to pursue Political Science courses or programs like BA History abroad which aligns with the Civil Services syllabus but are not sure about how to get started with it then the experts at Leverage Edu will lend you a helping hand. From completing the admission related formalities to preparing for visa interviews, the counsellors will provide quality guidance throughout the process.
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