UPSC Civil Services Syllabus
33 topics across 2 stages — verified against official sources.
Preliminary Examination
General Studies Paper I
General Studies
- Current Events of National and International Importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World GeographyPhysical, social, economic geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and GovernanceConstitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues.
- Economic and Social DevelopmentSustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives.
- Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate ChangeGeneral issues; no subject specialization required.
- General Science
General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
Aptitude
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
- General Mental Ability
- Basic Numeracy and Data InterpretationClass X level.
Main Examination
Paper A — Indian Language
Indian Language
- Language SkillsComprehension, précis writing, usage and vocabulary, short essays, translation (English to Indian language and vice versa).
Paper B — English
English
- Language SkillsComprehension, précis writing, usage and vocabulary, short essays.
Paper I — Essay
Essay
- Essay WritingMultiple topics; orderly arrangement of ideas, concise and effective expression.
Paper II — General Studies I
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
- Indian Heritage and CultureIndian culture: art forms, literature, architecture (ancient to modern).
- Modern Indian History and Freedom StruggleModern Indian history (mid-18th century to present); freedom struggle stages and contributors; post-independence consolidation and reorganization.
- World HistoryEvents from the 18th century onwards: industrial revolution, world wars, colonization/decolonization, political philosophies.
- Indian SocietyDiversity, role of women, population, poverty, urbanization, globalization effects, social empowerment, communalism, regionalism, secularism.
- World Physical GeographyDistribution of natural resources, factors of industry location, geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones), changes in geographical features.
Paper III — General Studies II
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
- Indian ConstitutionHistorical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure.
- Union and State Government, Parliament and JudiciaryFunctions and responsibilities of Union and States, federal structure, devolution, separation of powers, Parliament/State Legislatures, executive and judiciary, constitutional/statutory/regulatory bodies.
- Governance and Social JusticeGovernment policies and development processes, NGOs/SHGs, welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, social sector (health, education, human resources), poverty and hunger, transparency, e-governance, Citizens' Charters.
- International RelationsIndia and its neighbourhood, bilateral/regional/global groupings, international institutions.
Paper IV — General Studies III
Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
- Indian Economy and AgriculturePlanning, resource mobilization, growth, employment, inclusive growth, budgeting; agriculture, subsidies, MSP, PDS, food security; industrial policy, infrastructure, investment models.
- Science and TechnologyDevelopments and applications, Indian achievements, indigenization, IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-tech, bio-tech, IPR.
- Environment, Biodiversity and Disaster ManagementConservation, pollution, environmental impact assessment, disaster management.
- Internal SecurityExtremism linkages, external state and non-state actors, cyber security, money laundering, border security, organized crime-terrorism linkages, security forces and agencies.
Paper V — General Studies IV
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
- Ethics and Human InterfaceEssence, determinants and consequences of ethics; human values; role of family, society and education.
- Attitude, Aptitude and Emotional IntelligenceAttitude content, structure, function; aptitude and foundational values for civil service; emotional intelligence and its use in administration.
- Public Service Values and Probity in GovernanceCivil service values, ethical concerns and dilemmas, accountability, probity in governance, transparency, RTI, codes of ethics/conduct, corruption.
- Case StudiesCase studies on ethics, integrity and aptitude issues.
Syllabus content on GovBabu is compiled and verified against official sources where available. Always confirm against the current official notification before finalising your preparation plan.