UPSC Civil Services Examination Syllabus (Latest)

According to the latest official UPSC Civil Services notification, the syllabus for the Preliminary and Main exams is as follows​upsc.gov.in​:

Preliminary Examination

• General Studies Paper I (200 marks, 2 hours): Topics include:

  • Current events of national and international importance​.

  • History of India and the Indian National Movement​.

  • Indian and World Geography (physical, social, economic)​.

  • 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.)​.

  • Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change (general issues)​.

  • General Science​.

• General Studies Paper II (CSAT, 200 marks, 2 hours): Tests comprehension; interpersonal and communication skills; logical reasoning and analytical ability; decision-making and problem-solving; general mental ability; basic numeracy (Class X level); and data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, Class X level)​. This paper is qualifying (minimum 33% marks required)​.

Main Examination

• Essay (Paper I): Candidates write essays on multiple topics. Essays should be well-structured, closely relevant to the topic, and concise.

• Compulsory Qualifying Papers (Paper A – Indian Language; Paper B – English): Test the candidate’s comprehension, précis writing, usage and vocabulary, and short essay writing in the chosen Indian language and in English​ (English ↔ Indian language translation is also tested). These papers are of matriculation/equivalent standard and are only qualifying in nature (marks not counted for ranking)​.

• General Studies Paper I (Paper II – Mains): Indian Heritage & Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. Topics include:

  • Indian culture – salient aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times​.

  • Modern Indian history – from mid-18th century to present (significant events, personalities, issues)​.

  • Indian freedom struggle – its various stages and important contributors​.

  • Post-Independence consolidation and reorganization within India​.

  • World history – 18th–20th century events (Industrial Revolution, world wars, colonization/decolonization; political philosophies like communism, socialism, etc.)​.

  • Indian society – salient features of society (diversity, role of women and women’s organizations; population, poverty, urbanization and related issues)​upsc.gov.in.

  • Social issues – effects of globalization on Indian society; social empowerment; communalism, regionalism and secularism​.

  • World geography – salient features of world physical geography; distribution of key natural resources in the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)​.

• General Studies Paper II (Paper III – Mains): Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations. Topics include:

  • Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure​.

  • Governance & Federalism – functions and responsibilities of the Union and State governments; issues/challenges in federal structure; devolution of powers and finances to local levels​.

  • Separation of powers – dispute redressal mechanisms; comparison of Indian constitutional scheme with other countries​.

  • Legislature – Parliament and State legislatures (structure, functioning, powers, privileges, issues)​.

  • Executive & Judiciary – structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and Judiciary (ministries, departments; role of civil services; pressure groups)​.

  • Constitutional bodies – salient features of the Representation of People’s Act; appointment, powers and functions of bodies like the Election Commission, UPSC, CAG, etc.​.

  • Statutory bodies – statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial institutions​.

  • Public policy and welfare – government policies/interventions for development in various sectors; issues in design and implementation; welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (Centre/States)​.

  • Social sector – issues relating to health, education, human resources; poverty and hunger​.

  • Governance – transparency, accountability, e-governance, citizen’s charters​.

  • Role of civil services – in a democracy.

  • International relations – India’s relations with its neighbors; bilateral/regional/global groupings and agreements; impact of world politics on India; Indian diaspora​.

  • International institutions – important international organizations/agencies and their structure/mandates​.

• General Studies Paper III (Paper IV – Mains): Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management. Topics include:

  • Indian Economy – issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment​; inclusive growth; government budgeting​.

  • Agriculture & allied sectors – major crops and cropping patterns; irrigation systems; storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce; technology for farmers​; farm subsidies and MSP; Public Distribution System (objectives, functioning, revamping) and food security​.

  • Food processing industries – scope, significance, location, supply chain management​upsc.gov.in.

  • Land reforms in India​.

  • Effects of liberalization – changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth​upsc.gov.in.

  • Infrastructure – energy, ports, roads, airports, railways, etc.​.

  • Investment models​.

  • Science & Technology – developments and applications in everyday life; achievements of Indians; indigenization of technology​.

  • IT, Space & Emerging Tech – awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology; issues relating to intellectual property rights​.

  • Environment & Ecology – conservation, pollution and degradation; environmental impact assessment​.

  • Disaster management – disaster prevention and management​.

  • Internal security – linkages between development and extremism; role of external/non-state actors; basics of cyber security; money-laundering​

  • Security challenges – terrorism, organized crime, border management; role of security forces and agencies​

• General Studies Paper IV (Paper V – Mains): Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. Topics include:

  • Ethics & Human Interface – essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics​

  • Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values​

  • Attitude – content, structure, function; influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion​

  • Aptitude & Values for Civil Service – integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, compassion​

  • Emotional intelligence – concepts and their utility in administration and governance​upsc.gov.in.

  • Contributions of thinkers – contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world​upsc.gov.in.

  • Public service values & ethics – in Public Administration (status, problems; ethical dilemmas; accountability and ethical governance)​

  • Probity in Governance – concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; transparency (RTI, citizen charters); code of ethics; work culture; quality of service delivery; challenges of corruption​.

  • Case studies – on above issues​.

• Optional Subjects (Papers VI & VII): One optional subject must be chosen from the UPSC list​. The available subjects are: Agriculture; Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science; Anthropology; Botany; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Commerce & Accountancy; Economics; Electrical Engineering; Geography; Geology; History; Law; Management; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Medical Science; Philosophy; Physics; Political Science & International Relations; Psychology; Public Administration; Sociology; Statistics; Zoology; and Literature (any one of the 23 languages in the Eighth Schedule – e.g. Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English, etc.)​​. Each optional subject has two papers (Paper VI & Paper VII, essay type, 3 hours each)​.

Sources: Official UPSC Civil Services Examination Notification (CSP 2025)