Syllabus

UPSC Syllabus 2021

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Exam Syllabus is divided into three categories, namely Preliminary, Mains and Interview. The Preliminary syllabus is mainly designed to assess a candidate's comprehension of current affairs and aptitude within the stipulated time. The preliminary paper is a compulsory and qualifying paper. The Mains syllabus is basically designed to judge a candidate's academic expertise in his/her specialized subject. The syllabus also focuses on testing aspirants' ability to present knowledge in a clear and coherent manner.  The main examination has 9 papers and the syllabus is designed according to the subjects specified. The Preliminary and Mains syllabus is designed for the written test. Candidates, who emerge successful in the Preliminary and Main examination, can appear for the interview. 

IAS Prelims Syllabus 

The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to shortlist the candidates for various posts such as IAS, IPS and IFS. The Preliminary Examination is the first round of the selection process. Aspirants should appear for two general studies papers of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. They should note that General Studies Paper-II is also known as Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%. 

IAS Prelims Syllabus For General Studies Paper 1 

• 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, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization. 
• General Science 

IAS Prelims Syllabus For General Studies Paper 2

• 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).  

IAS Mains Syllabus  

The Commission will release the list of candidates shortlisted for the Civil Services Main Exam based on merit and reservation. Around 12-13 times the total number of vacancies will be shortlisted to take the Main Exam. Aspirants should understand that the Main Exam is the crucial phase in IAS selection procedure. This phase tests the candidates on various subjects. The Main Exam consists of nine conventional (descriptive) papers out of which two are qualifying. 

IAS Mains Syllabus – Indian Language & English  

The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned. 

• The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows: 
• Comprehension of given passages 
• Precis Writing 
• Usage and Vocabulary 
• Short Essays 

Indian Languages 

• Comprehension of given passages 
• Precis Writing 
• Usage and Vocabulary 
• Short Essays 
• Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa. 

Note:

The syllabus for Indian Language and English will be of matriculation or equivalent standard. These papers are of qualifying nature and marks obtained will not be counted for final merit. Aspirants should answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).