SYLLABUS | IAS EXAM 2024-25

• UPSC CSE Syllabus for selection into IAS is decided by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) each year. Each stage in IAS exam has a different syllabus. The IAS Syllabus for Prelims evaluates a candidate’s knowledge and aptitude in current affairs.
• The IAS Syllabus for Mains assesses a candidate’s academic expertise in his specialized subject. It also tests his ability to present knowledge in a clear and coherent manner and his overall intellectual traits and understanding of concepts. 
• The Prelims Test section of IAS Exam 2022 covers questions from History, Polity, Geography and Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ecology and Environment, Economics, Arts and Culture, Social Welfare and GK. 
• The scope of IAS Syllabus for Mains section as optional subject papers (Paper 6 and Paper 7) for the examination is broad of the honours’ degree level.
• In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus

PAPER – I

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography- physical, social, 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, biodiversity and climate change- that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science

PAPER – II

• 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)

UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus

• The written examination consists of qualifying papers and papers to be counted for merit.

QUALIFYING PAPERS 

Paper-A: Indian language (300 Marks)

• One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

Paper-B: English language (300 Marks)

PAPERS TO BE COUNTED FOR MERIT

PAPER – 1: ESSAY

Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. They will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

PAPER – 2: GENERAL STUDIES - 1

INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, INDIAN AND WORLD HISTORY

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, 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 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.- their forms and effect on the society.

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.

GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD

• Salient features of the world's physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); 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, cyclone, 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.

PAPER – 3: GENERAL STUDIES - 2

CONSTITUTION, POLITY, AND GOVERNANCE

• Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• 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.
• Separation of powers between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• 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.
• Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
• 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 development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• 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.
• Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate.

PAPER – 4: GENERAL STUDIES - 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• 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; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
• Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
• Investment models.

TECHNOLOGY

• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

BIO DIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

• Disaster and disaster management.

SECURITY

• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• 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.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

PAPER – 5: GENERAL STUDIES - 4

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.
• 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.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• 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.
• Emotional intelligence - concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
• 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.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; 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.
• Case Studies on the above issues.