UPSC: CSE SYLLABUS

UPSC Preliminary Examination Syllabus

Paper I - (200 marks)
▪ Current Events of National and International Importance.

▪ History of India and Indian National Movement.

▪ Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of

India and the World.

▪ Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj,

Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

▪ Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty,

Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

▪ General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, and Climate Change -

that do not require subject specialization.

▪ General Science.

Paper II - (200 marks)

▪ Comprehension; Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills.

▪ Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.

▪ Decision Making and Problem Solving.

▪ General Mental Ability.

▪ Basic Numeracy (Numbers and their Relations, Orders of Magnitude, etc.)

(Class X level).

▪ Data Interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. — Class X

level).

Note 1: Paper II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a

qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Note 2: The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
 MAINS SYLLABUS
General Studies – I

➢ History
• Art & Culture
• Modern History
• World History
➢ Geography
• Physical Geography of India & World
• Human Geography
➢ Indian Society
• Demography, Social Issues, and Developments in Indian Society

General Studies-II

➢ Governance
➢ Constitution
➢ Polity
➢ Social Justice
➢ International Relations

General Studies-III

➢ Technology
➢ Economic Development
➢ Biodiversity
➢ Environment
➢ Security
➢ Disaster Management

General Studies-IV

➢ Ethics
➢ Integrity
➢ Aptitude
 DETAILED SYLLABUS GENERAL STUDIES- I

Topic Sub Topic

History • Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth
century until the present- significant events, personalities, and
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 the 18th century
such as the Industrial Revolution, world wars, the Redrawal of
National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political
philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc.— their
forms and effect on society.
Art & Culture • Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times
Geography • Salient features of the 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, cyclones 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.
Indian 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.
 DETAILED SYLLABUS GENERAL STUDIES- II

Topic Sub Topic

Indian Constitution • Historical underpinnings of the constitution

• Evolution of the Constitution
• Salient features
• Basic structure
• Amendments
• Significant provisions
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the states
• Issues and challenges related to the Federal Structure
• Devolution of powers and finances up to the local
government level
• Challenges in the devolution of power
• Separation of powers between various organs of the
government
• Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
• Comparison of India’s constitutional scheme with other
countries

Governance & Polity • Parliament and State Legislatures

o Structure
o Functioning
o Conduct Of Business
o Powers & Privileges
o Issues arising out of Powers & Privileges of
legislative bodies
• Executive and Judiciary
o Structure
o Organization
o Functioning
o Ministries and departments of the government
• Pressure groups
• Formal & Informal associations and their role in the polity
• Salient features of the People’s Representation Act
.
Governance • 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 the
development of various sectors
• Issues arising out of the design and implementation of
government intervention
• Development processes and the development of the
industry
• The role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations,
donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and
accountability
• e-governance
o applications and models
o successes
o limitations and potential
o citizens charters
o transparency & accountability and institutional and
other measures.
• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
Social Justice • Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the
population by centre and states
• The performance of welfare schemes
• Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for
the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections of
the population
• Issues related to the development and management of
the social sector/Services relating to Health, Education,
Human Resources
• Issues related to poverty and hunger
International • India and its neighbourhood
Relations • Relations between India and neighbouring countries
• 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
o Structure
o Mandate
 DETAILED SYLLABUS GENERAL STUDIES- III

Topic Sub Topic

Indian Economy • Issues related to planning

• Mobilization of resources
• Growth
• Development
• Employment
Inclusive Growth • Inclusive growth
• Issues arising from or related to inclusive growth
Budgeting • Government Budgeting
Major Crops and • Major crops and cropping patterns in different parts of the
Cropping Patterns country
• Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage
• Transport and marketing of agricultural produce
• Issues related to the transport and marketing of
agricultural produce
• E- technology in the aid of farmers
Subsidies, Poverty • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies
Alleviation and • Issues related to Minimum Support Prices
Agricultural • Public Distribution System
Technology o Objectives
o Functioning
o Limitations
o Revamp
• Issues related to buffer stocks and food security
• Technology missions
• Economics of Animal rearing

Food Processing and • Food processing and related industries in India

Related Industries o Scope and significance
o Location
o Upstream and downstream requirements
• Supply chain management
Land Reforms • Land reforms in India
Liberalization • Effects of Liberalization on the economy
 • Changes in industrial policy
• Effects of changes in industrial policy on industrial growth
Infrastructure • Energy
• Ports
• Roads
• Airports
• Railways etc.
Investment • Investment models such as Public-Private Partnerships,
Build Operate Transfer etc.
Science and • Developments in Science and Technology
Technology • Applications of scientific developments in everyday life
• Effects of scientific developments in everyday life
.
Achievements of • Important contributions of Indians in Science and
Indians in Science Technology
and Technology • Indigenization of technology
• Developing new technology indigenously
General Awareness • Awareness in the following fields:
o IT
o Space
o Computers
o Robotics
o Nanotechnology
o Biotechnology
• Issues related to Intellectual Property
• Rights in these fields
Environment • Conservation
• Environmental pollution and degradation
• Environmental Impact Assessment
Disaster Management • Disasters
• Disaster Management
Security • Linkages between the development and spread of
extremism
• Role of state and non-state actors in creating challenges
to internal security
• Challenges to Internal Security through communication
networks:
o 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:
o Linkages of organized crime with terrorism
o Various Security forces and agencies and their
mandates
 DETAILED SYLLABUS GENERAL STUDIES- IV

Topic Sub Topic

Ethics and Human • The Essence of Ethics, Determinants and Consequences of
Interface Ethics in Human Interaction
• 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
moral and ethical values
Attitude • Content, structure and function of attitude
• Influence of attitude in thought and behaviour
• Relation of attitude to thought and behaviour
• Moral and Political attitudes
• Social influence and persuasion
Aptitude • Aptitude and foundational values of Civil Service
• Integrity
• Impartiality and non-partisanship
• Objectivity
• Dedication to public service
• Empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections
of the society

Emotional • Concepts of emotional intelligence

Intelligence • Utility and application of emotional intelligence in
administration and governance
Contributions of • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and
Thinkers and the world to the concepts of morality
Philosophers
Public/Civil Service • Status and associated problems
Values and Ethics in • Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private
Public Administration 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 • Concept of public service
Governance • The 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
 Must-Read Important Topics in GS-I

History, Art & Culture Indian Society

• Independence Struggle • Women Empowerment

• Rowlatt Act & Jallianwala Bagh Massacre • Poverty
• Salt Satyagraha • Secularism
• Wood’s Despatch • Communalism
• Puppetry
• Types of Classical Dances in India
• Tribal Paintings of India
• Temple Architecture Styles

Geography –

• Earthquake
• Cyclones
• Types of Rocks
• Erosional Landforms
 Must-Read Important Topics in GS-II

Constitution of India Preamble

Important Amendments in the Indian Lok Sabha

Constitution

Rajya Sabha President

Prime Minister Chief Minister

Governor Speaker

NCSC NCST

UN Government Schemes

WHO 42nd Amendment Act, 1972

44th Amendment Act, 1976 Comptroller & Auditor General of India

(CAG)
 Must-Read Important Topics in GS-III

Indian Economy Inclusive Growth

• Economic Planning in India • Inclusive Growth

• Economic Growth & Development • Financial Inclusion
• Unemployment in India
Budgeting Major Crops

• Union Budget 2020 • Major Crops in India

• Union Budget 2021 • Agricultural Produce Market
Committee
Subsidies, Agriculture Food Processing

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) • Food Processing

• Commission for Agricultural Costs and
Prices (CACP)
• PDS & TPDS
Land Reforms Liberalization

• Land Reforms in Post-Independent India • Difference between Globalization &

Liberalization
• Industrial Policy in India
Infrastructure Investment

• List of Major Ports in India • Public Private Partnership (PPP)

• List of Important National Highways in
India
Science & Technology Environment

• Nanotechnology • Environmental Impact Assessment

• Intellectual Property Rights in India (EIA)
Disaster Management Security

• Disaster Management in India • Cyber Security

• Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
 Must-Read Important Topics in GS-IV

Attitude Difference between Ethics and Values

Difference between Democracy & Dictatorship Difference Between Ethics & Morality-

Difference Between Democracy and Monarchy Difference Between Communism, Capitalism and
Socialism
 FOCUS AREAS IN GS-I PAPER

Subject Topics

Art & Culture • Classical dances

• Temple architecture
• Themes of ancient Indian history
• Literature
• Music and musical instruments
Modern History • Four important agitations/movements: Swadeshi and
Boycott movement, Khilafat and Non-cooperation
movement, Civil Disobedience movement, and Quit India
movement.
• Social/religious reform movements: personalities and their
contributions
• Contributions of important personalities (Indian and foreign)
India after • Admission of princely states
Independence & • Role of important personalities
Political Philosophies • Important movements after 1947
• Communism
• Capitalism
• socialism
World History • American, French, Russian and Industrial Revolution
• World War I and II
• Current affairs
• International pages of The Hindu and The Indian Express
Society of India • Diversity in India
• Women Empowerment
• Issues in Indian Society
Geography • Cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes
• Location of industries in India
• Water bodies
• Climate change
• Natural Resources
 FOCUS AREAS IN GS-II PAPER

Subject Topics
Polity • Indian Constitution
• Features of the Indian Constitution
• Amendments in Indian Constitution
• Provisions
• Constitutional and non-constitutional bodies
Governance • Government policies and interventions
• Governance
• Transparency
• Accountability
• E-governance applications

Social Justice • Issues relating to the development and management of

Social Sector/Services
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger

International • Bilateral Groupings

Relations • Regional and global groupings
• Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests
 FOCUS AREAS IN GS-III PAPER

Subject Topics
Economics • Economic Development in India
• Macroeconomics
Science & Technology • Dark Matter
• Higgs Boson
• Rare Earth Elements
• GM Crops
• Gene Editing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Space Technology
• Defence Technology
Biodiversity • Types of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity and Environment
Security • Internal Security Challenges in India
• Extremism
• Terrorism
• Money-Laundering
Disaster Management • Disaster Management in India
• PM Cares Fund
• National Disaster Management Plan 2016
 FOCUS AREAS IN GS-IV PAPER

[Link]. Ethics Topics

1. Ethics and Human Interface
2. Human Values
3. Attitude
4. Aptitude
5. Emotional Intelligence
6. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the
world
7. Public or Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration
8. Ethical issues in international relations and funding corporate
governance
9. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of
governance and probity; information
10. Codes of ethics & Citizen’s Charters