Pratik Gupta

General Studies Mains Syllabus

UPSC MAINS SYLLABUS
MATERIAL TO BE PREPARED AS PER THE GIVEN TOPICS
1. Indian Heritage and Culture:
1.1 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms
1.2 Literature and Architecture: From Ancient to modern times.
1.3 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present.
1.4 Significant event, Personalities and Issues
1.5 The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors/contributions from
different parts of the country.
1.6 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
2. History of World and Society
2.1 History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution
2.2 World wars, Re-drawl of national boundaries, Colonization, decolonization
2.3 Political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms and effect on
the society.
2.4 Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
2.5 Role of women and women’s organization
2.6 Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues
2.7 Urbanization their problems and their remedies.
2.8 Effects of globalization on Indian society
2.9 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
3. Geography of the World:
3.1 Salient features of world’s physical geography.
3.2 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian
subcontinent)
3.3 Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
various parts of the world (including India)
3.4 Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic Activity, Cyclone
etc.,
3.5 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.
4. Constitution:
4.1 Indian Constitution: Historical underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, significant
provisions and basic structure.
4.2 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
4.3 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.
4.4 Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
4.5 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
4.6 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
5. Governance and Polity:

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General Studies Mains Syllabus
5.1 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and challenges pertaining to
the federal structure
5.2 Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
5.3 Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
5.4 Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
5.5 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising
out of their design and implementation.
5.6 Development processes and the development industry: The role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
5.7 Important aspects of governance: Transparency and accountability, E-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
6. Social Justice:
6.1 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States, The
performance of these schemes; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
6.2 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
6.3 Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
6.4 Role of civil services in a democracy.
7. International Relation
7.1 India and its neighbor-hood relation, Bilateral, regional and global groupings and Agreements
involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
7.2 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
7.3 Indian diaspora.
7.4 Important International institutions,
7.5 Agencies and fora- their structure, Mandate.
8. Economic Development:
8.1 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, Mobilization of resources
8.2 Growth, Development and Employment.
8.3 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
8.4 Government Budgeting.
8.5 Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country
8.6 Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage
8.7 Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;
8.8 E-technology in the aid of farmers
8.9 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices;
8.10 Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping;
8.11 Issues of buffer stocks and food security;
8.12 Technology missions;
8.13 Economics of animal-rearing.
8.14 Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management.
8.15 Land reforms in India.

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General Studies Mains Syllabus
8.16 Effects of liberalization on the economy,
8.17 Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
8.18 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
8.19 Investment models.
9. Science/Technology:
9.1 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
9.2 Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
9.3 Indigenization of technology, developing new technology.
9.4 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
and
9.5 Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
10. Environment & Biodiversity:
10.1 Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation
10.2 Environmental impact assessment (EIS)
11. Security and Disaster Management
11.1 Disaster and disaster management.
11.2 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
11.3 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
11.4 Challenges to internal security through communication networks
11.5 Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
11.6 Basics of cyber security;
11.7 Money-laundering and its prevention
11.8 Security challenges and their management in border areas;
11.9 Linkages of organized crime with terrorism
11.10 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
12. Issues of Ethics
12.1 Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human
actions;
12.2 Dimensions of ethics; Ethics in private and public relationships.
12.3 Human Values–lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and
administrators;
12.4 Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
12.5 Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour;
12.6 Moral and political attitudes; Social influence and persuasion.
12.7 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems;
12.8 Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions;
12.9 Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
12.10 Accountability and ethical governance;
12.11 Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;
12.12 Ethical issues in international relations and funding;
12.13 Corporate governance.
12.14 Probity in Governance: Concept of public service;
12.15 Philosophical basis of governance and probity;

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General Studies Mains Syllabus
12.16Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,
12.17Codes of Ethics,
12.18Codes of Conduct,
12.19Citizen’s Charters,
12.20Work culture,
12.21Quality of service delivery,
12.22Utilization of public funds,
12.23Challenges of corruption.
12.24Case Studies on above issues.
13. Issues of Integrity and Aptitude
13.1 Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service,
13.2 Integrity, Impartiality and non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to public service,
13.3 Empathy, Tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
13.4 Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and
governance.
13.5 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
13.6 Case Studies on above issues.

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