UPSC Syllabus For Prelims

The UPSC Civil Services Prelims has two papers namely General Studies-I and
General Studies-II (CSAT). Check out the IAS syllabus for both the UPSC papers
below:
UPSC Syllabus for Prelims: Paper-I
The IAS Syllabus for UPSC Prelims Exam includes the following topics:

1. Current Events of National and International Importance.

2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and
the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public
Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
6. General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that
do not require subject specialization General Science

Also, Read | How to prepare IAS Syllabus for GS-I  in UPSC Prelims
UPSC Syllabus For Prelims: General Studies Paper-II
The GS-II in UPSC Prelims is also known as CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test. The
following topics are included in the IAS syllabus for this paper:

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision-making and problem solving
5. General mental ability
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc., - Class X
level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc., - Class X
level)

Also, Read | How to prepare for CSAT for UPSC Prelims

Phase 2: UPSC Civil Services Main Examination

UPSC Mains exam consists of nine papers that are held over 4-5 days. Out of these, only
seven papers are merit-oriented. The rest two papers including the Compulsory Indian
Language paper and Compulsory English paper are qualifying in nature. Here’s a brief
about UPSC Mains Paper:

Qualifying Papers Marks

 Paper-A One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages 300
included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution (Compulsory Indian Language)

Paper-B English 300

Papers to be Counted for Merit

Paper-I Essay 250

Paper-II General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World 250
and Society)

Paper-III General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International 250
relations)

Paper-IV Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, 250

Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Paper-V General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250

Paper-VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 250

Paper-VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 250

Sub Total (Written Test) 1750

Personality Test 275

Grand Total 2025

Download UPSC Syllabus Micro topics List Worth Rs. 599 For Free
UPSC Syllabus For Civil Services Mains Examination
PAPER-I Essay:
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to
arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and write concisely. Credit will be given for
effective and exact expression.
Read more | Best strategy for essay writing for UPSC Mains
PAPER-II General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and
Geography of the World and Society.

1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature & Architecture
from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present- significant events, personalities, issues.
3. The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions
from different parts of the country.
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. History of the World will include events from the 18th century, such as the Industrial
Revolution, World Wars, redraw of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization,
political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc., - their forms and
effects on the society.
6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and women's
organizations, 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.
7. Salient features of the world's physical geography.
8. 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, cyclones,
etc., geographical features and their location - changes in critical geographical
features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects
of such changes.

Read more | How to prepare for General Studies-I 

PAPER-III General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social
Justice and International Relations.

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions, and basic structure.
2. 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.
3. Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
4. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries,
Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, the conduct of business,
powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
5. 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.
6. Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
7. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities
of various Constitutional Bodies.
 8. 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.
9. Development processes and the development industry - the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
stakeholders.
10. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Center and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies
constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
11. Issues related to development and management of Social Sector/Services in the
field of Health, Education, Human Resources.
12. Issues related to poverty and hunger.
13. Important aspects of governance, transparency, and accountability, e-governance -
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
14. Role of Civil Services in a democracy.
15. India and its neighbourhood - 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.
16. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Read more | How to prepare for General Studies-II

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PAPER-IV General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development,
Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
2. 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;
3. E-technology in the aid of farmers Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies
and minimum support prices;
4. Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of
buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
5. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
6. Land reforms in India. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial
policy and their effects on industrial growth.
7. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
8. Investment models. Science and Technology- developments and their applications
and effects in everyday life Achievement of Indians in science & technology;
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
9. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-
technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
10. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact
assessment Disaster and disaster management.
 11. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
12. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
13. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media
and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security;
money-laundering and its prevention.
14. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized
crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Read more | How to prepare for General Studies-III

PAPER-V General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
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.

1. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and
administrators; the role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating
values.
2. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and
behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
3. 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.
4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration
and governance. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the
world.
5. 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.
6. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance
and probity;
7. 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 the
above issues.

Read more | How to prepare for General Studies Paper-IV

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Paper-VI: Optional Paper-I

1. Optional Subject -Paper I (250 Marks) )

Paper-VII: Optional Paper-III

1. Optional Subject - Paper-II (250 marks)

List of Optional Subject for UPSC Mains

Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Anthropology Botany Chemistry
Veterinary Science

Civil Commerce and Economics Electrical Geography

Engineering Accountancy Engineering

Geology History Law Management Mathematics

Mechanical Medical Science Philosophy Physics Political Science and

Engineering International Relations

Literature of the following languages are also a part of the UPSC optional subjects for
UPSC Mains exam from which you can choose your best suited optional subject for UPSC:

Assamese Bengali Bodo Dogri Gujarati

Hindi Kannada Kashmiri Konkani Maithali

Malayalam Manipuri Marathi Nepali Odia

Punjabi Sanskrit Santhali Sindhi Tamil

Telugu Urdu English

Phase 3: Interview/Personality Test (275 Marks)

1. Candidates who are selected after the UPSC Mains Exam move to the next and final
phase called Personality Test/Interview. Here, the candidates are interviewed by a
competent and unbiased board. This board will have the candidate's DAF (Detail
Application Form) with them.
2. The interview round is held to assess the candidate's social traits and his interest in
current affairs. The motive of the board is to analyze the personal aptness of the
candidate for a career in public service
3. Candidates can give interviews in their preferred language as UPSC will make
arrangements for the translators.

Personality Test:
 1. The Interview test will consist of 275 marks.
2. The total mark of the written examination is 1750 Marks.
3. Therefore, the grand total will consist of 2025 Marks

Read more | Preparation Strategy for UPSC Civil Services Interview

How To Prepare UPSC Syllabus For IAS Exam | Preparation Tips

For UPSC Syllabus
Now that you have an idea of how elaborate the IAS syllabus is, we thought it would be nice
to give you some UPSC Syllabus preparation tips. These tips will help you prepare the IAS
syllabus holistically.
#Tip 1: Mind-Map the IAS Syllabus
Since the UPSC syllabus is extensive, it is important to read it extremely carefully multiple
times to mind-map it. It is crucial to have an understanding of the UPSC syllabus to filter out
irrelevant content from the relevant one. It will save you a lot of time in your UPSC
preparation and UPSC syllabus completion.
#Tip 2: Download IAS Syllabus Micro Topics List PDF
The best way to achieve mind-mapping of the UPSC syllabus is to keep a copy of micro-
topics with you. It will further break down the IAS syllabus into important micro topics that
you need to prepare for the IAS exam. You can download IAS Syllabus micro topics from
the right panel, print the document. And keep it on your study table. Refer to it whenever
you need to know the relevance of any topic vis-a-vis the UPSC syllabus.
#Tip 3: Build Your Foundation
Now, coming to how to cover the UPSC syllabus, first and foremost, it is important to build a
strong foundation. Read NCERTs of all the standard subjects. These are available for free
on their official website. If you’re on a time-crunch, you can also check out our NCERT
course. Read how to read NCERTs for UPSC preparation to have a detailed
understanding of why NCERTs is important to cover the UPSC syllabus.
#Tip 4: Strengthen Your Concepts
Strengthen your concepts with the standard books on each subject. You can get a
detailed booklist for UPSC in the linked article. You can also check out our subject-wise
strategy to cover the IAS syllabus in the linked article to cover each subject in great
detail.
#Tip 5: Revise! Revise! Revise
Revision is really the key to the IAS syllabus! It helps in conceptual clarity and concept
retention. Make it a habit to revise whatever you read on a particular day in the night.
Dedicate specific days in your weekly and monthly planner specifically to revision. The
UPSC exam is not about how much you study but how much you’re able to retain from the
UPSC syllabus.
 Golaknath Case
Golaknath v. State Of Punjab (1967 AIR 1643, 1967 SCR (2) 762), or simply the Golaknath case,
was a 1967 Indian Supreme Court case, in which the Court ruled that Parliament could not curtail
any of the Fundamental Rights in the Constitution. [1]

The family of Henry and William Golak Nath held over 500 acres of farmland in Jalandhar, Punjab. In
the phase of the 1953 Punjab Security and Land Tenures Act, the state government held that the
brothers could keep only thirty acres each, a few acres would go to tenants and the rest was
declared 'surplus'. This was challenged by the Golak Nath family in the courts and the case was
referred to the Supreme Court in 1965. The family filed a petition under Article 32 challenging the
1953 Punjab Act on the ground that it denied them their constitutional rights to acquire and hold
property and practice any profession (Articles 19(1)(f) and 19(1)(g)) and to equality before and equal
protection of the law (Article 14). They also sought to have the Seventeenth Amendment – which
had placed the Punjab Act in the Ninth Schedule – declared ultra vires.[2]
The issues involved were whether Amendment is a “law” under the meaning of Article 13(3)( a), and
whether Fundamental Rights can be amended or not.

Kesavananda Bharati Case

Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Anr. (Writ Petition (Civil) 135 of
1970), also known as the Kesavananda Bharati judgement, is a landmark decision of the Supreme
Court of India that outlined the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution.[1] The case is also
known as the Fundamental Rights Case. The court asserted its right to strike down amendments to
the constitution that were in violation of the fundamental architecture of the constitution. [2]

On February 1970 Swami Kesavananda Bharati, senior plaintiff and head of the Hindu

monastery Edneer Matha in Edneer, Kasaragod District, Kerala, challenged the Kerala government's
attempts, under two land reform acts, to impose restrictions on the management of its property. A
noted Indian jurist, Nanabhoy Palkhivala, convinced Swami into filing his petition under Article 26,
concerning the right to manage religiously owned property without government interference. The
hearings consumed five months, and the outcome profoundly affected India's democratic processes.
The case had been heard for 68 days, the arguments commencing on October 31, 1972, and ending
on March 23,1973, and its judgement consists of 700 pages.
 Maneka Gandhi Case

Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, AIR 1978 SC 597, was a landmark decision of the Supreme
Court of India in which the Court significantly expanded the interpretation of Article 21 of
the Constitution of India

Maneka Gandhi's passport was impounded 'in the public interest' by an order dated 2 July 1977. [3]: 
273 
 When reasons for impounding her passport was sought, the Government of India declined to
provide any evidence "in the interests of the general public." [3]: 273 
Gandhi filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, challenging the order on the
grounds that it violated Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. The Union responded in their
written submissions that her passport was impounded because her presence was likely to be
required in connection with legal proceedings before a 'Commission of Inquiry'.

Question Hour

Question Hour is the first hour of a sitting session of India's Lok Sabha devoted to questions
that Members of Parliament raise about any aspect of administrative activity. The concerned Minister
is obliged to answer to the Parliament, either orally or in writing, depending on the type of question
raised. Questions are one of the ways Parliament can hold the Executive accountable.

Types of question[edit]
There are four types of question—Starred, non-starred, short notice question and questions to
private members.
1) Starred Questions are those for which an oral answer is expected. The member is allowed to as
after the reply is obtained from the Minister concerned. Answer to such question may be followed by
supplementary questions by member.
These questions are printed in green colour and are marked with asterisk sign '*', in order to
distinguish from other questions.
2) Non-starred questions are those for which a written reply is expected. After the reply has been
provided, no supplementary question can be asked. A notice period is to be given to the minister to
reply to a question.
These questions are printed in white colour and not more than 230 questions can be listed for a day
in lok sabha.
3)Short notice questions are those which are asked on matters of urgent public importance and thus,
can be asked on a shorter notice i.e. less than 10 days. These questions can be answered orally
and supplementary questions can be asked.
These questions are printed in light pink colour.
4) Questions to private members are those which are asked to members who are not ministers.
These questions are related to private member's bills, parliamentary committees, private member
resolutions.
These questions are printed in Yellow colour.

 Zero Hour, the time of a sitting session of India's Lok Sabha

o The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament

(MPs)/MLAs for leaving one party for another.
o Parliament added it to the Constitution as the Tenth Schedule in
1985. Its purpose was to bring stability to governments by
discouraging legislators from changing parties.

 The Tenth Schedule - popularly known as the Anti-Defection

Act - was included in the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment
Act, 1985 and sets the provisions for disqualification of elected
members on the grounds of defection to another political party.
 It was a response to the toppling of multiple state governments
by party-hopping MLAs after the general elections of 1967.
o However, it allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with)
another political party without inviting the penalty for defection.
And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or
accepting defecting legislators
o

 As per the 1985 Act, a 'defection' by one-third of the

elected members of a political party was considered
a 'merger'.
  But the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003,
changed this and now at least two-thirds of the
members of a party have to be in favour of a "merger" for
it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
o The members disqualified under the law can stand for
elections from any political party for a seat in the same House.
o The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of
defection are referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such
House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’.

 However, the law does not provide a time-frame within

which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.