UPSC Syllabus – UPSC Mains Syllabus and UPSC Prelims Syllabus
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The Union Public Service Exam is one of the most difficult exams in India. It covers a wide range of topics from different genres. UPSC exam has 2 written papers in the Prelims and 7 written papers in Mains.
The syllabus for both the exams overlaps. As you will start your preparation, you will realize that all the topics are connected to each other. Let’s take a look at the UPSC Syllabus for the Prelims and Mains Exam.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
General Studies Paper I- 200 Marks
UPSC GS Prelims Paper I Syllabus | ||
History of India | Economic and Social Development | |
Indian National Movement | Sustainable Development | |
| Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World. | General issues on Environmental Ecology | |
Indian Polity and Governance | Inclusion | |
| Constitution | Demographics | |
Political System | Social Sector initiatives | |
| Panchayati Raj | Poverty | |
Public Policy | Biodiversity | |
| General Science | Climate Change | |
UPSC General Studies Paper-II – 200 Marks
UPSC Prelims General Ability Syllabus | |
Comprehension | Analytical Ability |
Interpersonal Skills | Decision Making |
Communication Skills | Problem Solving |
| Logical Reasoning | General Mental Ability |
UPSC Prelims Basic Numeracy Syllabus | |
Numbers and their Relations | Data Interpretation |
Orders of Magnitude | Divisibility rules |
Square roots | Fractions |
| Factorization | Polynomials and unit digit calculation |
Simplification | Exponent in factorial |
LCM and HCF | Formula based problems |
| Type of numbers | Decimal base conversion to binary |
UPSC Mains Syllabus
UPSC Mains Paper I: Essay – 250 Marks
The topics of UPSC 2019 Essay paper –
- Wisdom finds Truth
- Values are not what humanity is, but what humanity ought to be
- The best for an individual is not necessarily best for society.
- Courage to accept and dedication to improving are two keys to success
- South Asian societies are woven not around the state, but around their plural culture and plural identities
- Neglect of primary health care and education in India are reasons for its backwardness
- Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy
- Rise of Artificial Intelligence: the threat of jobless future or better job opportunities through reskilling and upskilling
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-II
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society – 250 Marks
UPSC Mains Indian Heritage and Culture Syllabus | |
Indian Art Forms | Architecture |
Indian Paintings | Harappan Architecture |
Indian Dance Forms | Temple and Cave Architecture |
Classical Music | Indo-Islamic Architecture |
Puppetry and Pottery | Mughal Architecture |
| Drama/Theatre | Heritage Sites |
Rock Cut Architecture | |
Literature | Colonial Architecture & the Modern Period |
Ancient Indian Literature | |
Classical Sanskrit Literature | |
Literature in Pali and Prakrit | |
Medieval Literature | |
Women Poets of Bhakti | |
Modern Indian Literature | |
UPSC Mains Modern Indian History Syllabus | |
Socio-economic Condition of People from the 18th century | Nation Building |
European Rule in India | Integration of Princely States |
British Colonisation of India | Reorganization of States |
| British Policies & Their Impact | Issue of Official Language |
Socio-cultural Reform Movements | Tribal Consolidation |
| Revolt against British Pre-1857 | Regional Aspirations |
Growth of Nationalism in India 1858 | Foreign Policy |
| Role of Western Education and Press | Non-Aligned Movement |
Formation of INC | Panchsheel |
| Beginning of Mass Nationalism | Wars with Pakistan & China |
Mahatma Gandhi – His Ideas | Nuclear Policy |
| Participation in Elections to Central Legislature & Provincial Assemblies | Green Revolution, Operation Flood & Cooperatives |
Government of India Act, 1935 | Agrarian & Land Reforms |
Towards Freedom & Partition | Industrial Reforms |
| National Movement During World War II | LPG Reforms |
Quit India Movement | The era of One-Party Dominance |
Nationalist Upsurge Post-World War II | The emergence of Opposition Parties |
Independence with Partition | Emergency: Crisis of Democratic Order |
Rise of Regional Parties | |
Coalition Era | |
Communalism | |
Indian Women Since Independence | |
Naxalism | |
UPSC Mains World History Syllabus | |
Industrial Revolution | World War II |
World War I | Europe after World War II |
World Between the Two Wars | Concept, Types & Social Impact of Political Philosophies |
UPSC Mains Indian Society Syllabus | |
Salient Features of Indian Society | Effects of Globalization on Indian Society |
Role of Women and Women’s Organization | Social Empowerment |
Population and Associated Issues | Communalism |
Poverty and Developmental Issues | Regionalism |
Urbanization | Secularism |
Features of World’s Physical Geography | |
Geomorphology | Soil Geography |
Oceanography | Climatology |
Distribution of Key Natural Resources Across the World | |
Land resources | Agriculture resources |
Water resources | Mineral & Energy Resources |
Forest resources | |
Factors Responsible for the Location of Industries | |
Classification of Industries | Distribution of Major Industries |
Location & Distribution of the Industries | Agglomeration & Footloose Industries |
Important Geophysical Phenomenon | |
Earthquakes | Volcanoes |
Tsunami | Cyclone |
Geographical Features and their Location for UPSC Mains Exam | |
Factors Causing Changes in Critical Geographical Features | Examples of Changing Geographical Features – Melting of Ice Sheets, Desertification etc. |
Impact of Changing Geographical Features | |
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper III:
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations – 250 Marks
UPSC Mains Governance Exam Syllabus | |
Government Policies & Interventions for Development | Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency & Accountability |
SHGs | Role of Civil Services in a Democracy |
NGOs | Ailments/Issues Afflicting Indian Civil Services |
Development Processes & the Development Industry | Reforming Bureaucracy to Strengthen Democracy |
Society, Trust, and Cooperatives | |
UPSC Mains Indian Polity and Constitution Syllabus | |
Historical Underpinning & Evolution | Separation of Powers Between Various Organs |
| Sources of Constitution | Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions |
Features of Constitution | Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme With other Countries |
| Amendments and Provisions | Executive and the Judiciary – Structure & Functions |
Structure | Ministries and Departments of the Government |
Union and States – Roles and Responsibilities | Pressure Groups and their role |
| Issues & Challenges of Federal Structure | Appointment to Constitutional Posts |
Cooperative & Competitive Federalism | Representation of People’s Act |
Centre-State Relations | Statutory, Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies |
Inter-State Relations | |
Emergency Provisions | |
Role of Governor | |
Reports of Various Commissions | |
| UPSC Mains Social Justice Syllabus |
Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections – SCs, STs, Minorities, Children, Elderly, Disabled, Women, Transgender |
Performance of These Schemes |
Laws and Institutions for Protection & Betterment of these Sections |
Poverty & Hunger in India |
Development & Management of Social Sector/Services |
Health, Education and Human resources |
UPSC Mains International Relations Syllabus | |
India and its Neighborhood – Relations | Effect of Policies & Politics of other Countries on India’s Interests |
Agreements and Summits Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests | Indian Diaspora |
Important International Institutions | |
UPSC IAS Mains General Studies Paper IV:
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management – 250 Marks
UPSC Science and Technology Syllabus | |
Chemicals in Food | Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology |
Drugs | Indigenization of Technology |
Cleansing Agents | Developing New Technology |
Glass | Awareness in Different Fields |
| Water Softener | Intellectual Property Rights |
Water Purification/Disinfection | |
Microwave Oven, etc. | |
| UPSC Mains Security Syllabus | |
Linkages Between Development & Spread of Extremism | Money-Laundering & its Prevention |
Challenges to Internal Security by internal and external state | Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism |
Basics of Cyber Security | Security Forces & Agencies in India |
Security Management in Border Areas | Internal Security and Communication Networks |
UPSC Mains Economic Development Syllabus | |
Indian Economy & Issues Relating to Planning | Fiscal Policy |
Mobilization of Resources | Deficit Reduction |
Growth and Development | Land Reforms in India |
Employment | LPG Policy |
Inclusive Growth | Industrial Policy & Industrial Growth |
Government Budgeting | Infrastructure |
Investment Models | |
| UPSC Biodiversity and Environment SYllabus for Mains | |
Conservation | Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India |
Environmental Pollution & Degradation | Different Types of Irrigation & Irrigation Systems Storage |
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) | Transport & Marketing of Agricultural Produce |
Disaster Management | E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers, Technology Missions |
National Environment Agencies, Legislations and Policies | Direct & Indirect Farm Subsidies |
International Environment Agencies & Agreements | Minimum Support Prices |
Economics of Animal-Rearing | Public Distribution System |
Issues of Buffer Stocks & Food Security | |
Food Processing & Industries in India | |
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper V:
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude – 250 Marks
| UPSC Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude Syllabus | |
Ethics and Human Interface | Emotional Intelligence Concepts |
Attitude – Content, Structure, and Function | Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and the World. |
Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service | Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration |
Probity in Governance | Case studies on above |
UPSC Optional Paper I and Optional Paper II – 250 Marks Each
This is the list of all the UPSC Optional Subjects –
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry |
| Anthropology | Botany |
| Chemistry | Civil Engineering |
| Accounts | Economics |
| Electrical Engineering | Geography |
| Geology | History |
| Law | Management |
| Mathematics | Mechanical Engineering |
| Medical Science | Philosophy |
| Physics | Political Science |
| Psychology | Public Administration |
| Sociology | Statistics |
| Zoology | English Literature |
| Gujarati Literature | Assamese Literature |
| Kannada Literature | Kashmiri Literature |
| Konkani Literature | Manipuri Literature |
| Bengali Literature | HindiLiterature |
| Sindhi Literature | Santali Literature |
| Tamil Literature | Maithili Literature |
| Telugu Literature | Dogri Literature |
| Urdu Literature | Bodo Literature |
| Sanskrit Literature | Odia Literature |
| Nepali Literature | Punjabi Literature |
| Malayalam Literature | Marathi Literature |
UPSC IAS Interview Syllabus
There is no particular syllabus for the UPSC Interview. The questions asked are usually around general knowledge or current affairs.
The interviewers may question the candidates about their career choice and the details they filled in application forms. They are looking for well-educated youth and will examine your personality and soft skills.
Conclusion
This was the syllabus for the UPSC exam. As you saw, it is a commitment you make to yourself. If you are a candidate appearing for this exam, then you should go through the syllabus very thoroughly.
This article will guide you about all the topics under each category subject wise. We have covered the syllabus for both UPSC prelims and mains exam.
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