Upsc Syllabus 2018

UPSC Syllabus PHASE 1 : PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
– CSAT
CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test is the first phase of preliminary examination of UPSC. This test
basically helps in finding the individual ability of thinking in ‘Reasoning and Analytics’. IAS prelims exam is
consists of two paper of objective type. The Following table is about UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
Paper Subjects Questions Total marks Duration
General studies
(this is qualifying
I 100 200 2 hours
paper for mains
examination)
Aptitude skills
(this paper is also
II qualifying but person 80 200 2 hours
has to score at least
33% marks)
UPSC SYLLABUS FOR PAPER I
1. Current events of national and international importance.

2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights
Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics,
Social Sector initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require
subject specialization General Science
UPSC SYLLABUS FOR PAPER II

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision-making and problem solving
5. General mental ability
6. 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 Syllabus PHASE II : MAINS

EXAMINATION (1750 marks)
The phase II examination helps in finding the individual ability to represent things in an understandable way.
The UPSC mains Examination intent is to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding
of candidates rather than merely the range of their knowledge and memory.
The IAS exam consists of 9 papers out of which 2 papers of 300 marks are qualifying in nature and marks of
these both paper is not counted in final total
 Any Indian language

 English
And the rest of seven papers can be written in any of the languages mentioned as in the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution or in English. Below given the remaining seven papers:
Paper – A
Language -300 Marks
(Candidate can take any Modern Indian language but this paper is of qualifying nature)
Paper – B
English -300 Marks
(This paper is of qualifying nature)
Paper – I
Essay – 250 Marks
(Can be written in the medium or language of the candidate’s choice)
Paper-II
General Studies-I 250 Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture,History and Geography of the World and Society)
Paper-III
General Studies -II: 250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
Paper-IV
General Studies -III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management)
Paper-V
General Studies -IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
Marks carried by General Studies papers are 4X 250=1000
Paper-VI
Optional Subject – Paper 1 -250 Marks
Paper-VII
Optional Subject – Paper II -250 Marks
(Candidate is allowed to take up literature as an optional subject “without the condition of having it
at the graduation level.”)
Sub Total (Written test) 1750 Marks

Marks of English and Language will not be counted in the total tally of marks for the written exam.
So the total of the Mains exam will be 1750 Marks Only.
PAPER 1: ESSAY (250)
However, Essay writing is important part of UPSC Mains Syllabus. Candidates are given a topic to write an
essay on that specified topic. The essay will be checked on the persons ideas related to that topic, clarity of
thoughts, creativeness and grammatical mistakes and also on effectiveness of ideas.
PAPER 2: GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 1 (250 MARKS)
1. When we talk about UPSC Mains Syllabus, General Studies is very important. Indian Heritage and
Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society form the key aspects of it.
2. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
3. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant
events, personalities, issues
4. The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different
parts of the country.
5. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
6. 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.
7. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
8. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
9. Effects of globalization on Indian society
10. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
11. Salient features of world’s physical geography.
12. 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)
13. 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 PAPER II (250 MARKS)
1. Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

2. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
and basic structure.
3. 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.
4. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
5. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
6. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
and issues arising out of these.
7. 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.
8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
9. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies.
10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
11. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
12. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
13. 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.
14. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
16. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications,
models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and
institutional and other measures.
17. Role of civil services in a democracy.
18. India and its neighborhood- relations.
19. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests
20. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
diaspora.
21. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
1. Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster

Management.
2. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and
employment.
3. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
4. Government Budgeting.
5. 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
6. 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.
7. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management.
8. Land reforms in India.
9. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
growth.
10. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
11. Investment models.
12. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
13. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
technology.
14. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and
issues relating to intellectual property rights.
15. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
16. Disaster and disaster management.
17. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
18. Role of external state and nonstate actors in creating challenges to internal security.
19. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking
sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
20. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
21. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
1. 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; role of family, society and educational
institutions in inculcating values.
2. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and
political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
3. 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.
4. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Case Studies on above issues.
PAPER 6 AND 7 (250 MARKS)
Optional 1 (Of your choice)/ Optional 2 (Of your choice)
Candidates can choose any optional from the subjects, which are given below:
 Agriculture
 Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
 Anthropology
 Botany
 Chemistry
 Civil Engineering
 Commerce and Accountancy
 Economics
 Electrical Engineering
 Geography
 Geology
 History
 Law
 Management
 Mathematics
 Mechanical Engineering
 Medical Science
 Philosophy
 Physics
 Political Science and International Relations
 Psychology
 Public Administration
 Sociology
 Statistics
 Zoology

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UPSC Syllabus PHASE 1 : PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Paper Subjects Questions Total marks Duration

UPSC SYLLABUS FOR PAPER I

1. Current events of national and international importance.

UPSC SYLLABUS FOR PAPER II

UPSC Syllabus PHASE II : MAINS

 Any Indian language

Sub Total (Written test) 1750 Marks

PAPER 1: ESSAY (250)

PAPER 2: GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 1 (250 MARKS)

PAPER 3: GENERAL STUDIES PAPER II (250 MARKS)

1. Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

PAPER 4: GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 3 (250 MARKS)

1. Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster

PAPER 5: GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4 (250 MARKS)

PAPER 6 AND 7 (250 MARKS)

Optional 1 (Of your choice)/ Optional 2 (Of your choice)

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