Detailed Syllabus for UPSC CSE Prelims - General

Studies Paper I:

History of India and Indian National Movement

Note - The syllabus of UPSC Prelims GS 1 mentions that the paper will have questions on
“History of India and Indian National Movement”. This is a broad classification and to
prepare History as per UPSC Prelims syllabus, candidates need to prepare following topics:

Ancient History of India • Prehistoric cultures in India

• Indus Valley Civilization. Origins- the

different phases- society, economy, and
culture- Contacts with other cultures-
factors lead to the decline.

• Geographical distribution and characteristics

of pastoral and farming society.

• Vedic society-Vedic texts- change from

Rigvedic to later Vedic phases.

• Vedic society Religion- Upanishad thought-

Political and social organization, the
evolution of the Varna system and
monarchy.

• Formation of the State and urbanization,

from the Mahajanapadas to the Nandas.

• Buddhism and Jainism- Factors for the

spread of Buddhism.

• The Mauryan Empire- Chandragupta and

Megasthenes.

• Ashoka and his inscriptions, his dhamma,

culture, administration, and art

• Society of Post-Mauryan India, BC 200- AD

300- Evolution of Jatis.

• The Satavahanas and formation of the state

in the Peninsula.

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Sangam texts and society.

• Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans,

Kanishka-Contacts with the outer world.

• Different Religion- Bhagavatism, Shaivism,

Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana, Jainism
and Culture and art.

• The Guptas and their descendants.

• Literature Science, Arts, Economy, and

society -Modification in the political
organisation of empire.

Medieval Indian History • Early Medieval India. Major dynasties;

Political and Agrarian organization. Status of
women, Extent of social mobility. The Arabs
in Sind and the Ghaznavids.

• Cultural trends, 750-1200, Religious

circumstances: the significance of temples
and monastic institutions; Sankaracharya;
Islam; Sufism. Art and architecture.
Literature and Science.

• 13th and 14th Centuries: Ghorian invasions

reasons and consequences. Delhi Sultanate
under the Slave Rulers. Aladdin Khalji:
invasion; administrative, agrarian and
economic measures. Muhammad Tughlug’s
innovations. Firuz Tughluq and the decline
of the Delhi Sultanate. Development of
urbanization and commerce. Spiritual
movements in Hinduism and Islam.
Literature. Architecture, Technological
changes.

• The 15th and early 16th Century: Key

Provincial dynasties; Vijayanagara Empire.
The Lodhis, First stage of the Mughal
Empire: The Sur Empire and administration.
Monotheistic movements: Kabir; Guru
Nanak and Sikhism; Bhakti. The spread of
regional literature. Art and Culture.

• The Mughal Empire, Akbar: invasion,

administrative measures, Policy of Sulh-I-

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Kul. Jagir and Mansab systems; Jahangir,
Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb: extension of
Mughal empire in the Deccan; religious
policies. Shivaji. Persian and regional
literature. Religious idea: Abul Fazl;
Maharashtra dharma. Architecture.
Painting. Economy: state of affairs of
peasants and artisans, escalation in trade;
trade with Europe. Social stratification and
position of women.

• The decline of the Mughal Empire, Reason

behind the decline. Maratha power under
the Peshwas. The Afghans. Regional states.
Most important components of composite
culture. Sawai Jai Singh, astronomer. The
rise of the Urdu language.

Modern India - Indian National Movement • British extension: The Carnatic Wars,
invasion of Bengal. Mysore and its
confrontation to British expansion: The
three Anglo-Maratha Wars. Regulating and
Pitt’s India Acts. Early composition of the
British raj.

• Economic Impact of the British Raj: land

revenue settlements like Zamindari,
Ryotwari, Mahalwari; Deindustrialisation;
Railways and commercialization of
agriculture; increase of landless labor.

• Cultural encounter and social changes: the

inception of western education and modern
thoughts. Indian Renaissance, religious and
social reform movements; Social reforms
events before 1857. Development of Indian
middle class; the vernacular press and its
effects: the rise of modern literature in
Indian languages.

• Confrontation to British rule: Early uprisings;

The 1857 Revolt-reasons, character, course
and result.

• Indian Freedom struggle the first stage:

Growth of national consciousness; creation
of Associations; Establishment of the Indian
National Congress and its Moderate stage;
Swadeshi Movement; Economic

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Nationalism; The development of Extremism
and the split in Congress; The policy of
Divide and Rule; Congress-League Pact of
1916.

• Gandhian thoughts and techniques of mass

mobilization- Civil Disobedience, the Khilafat
movement, Non-Cooperation Movement,
and Quit India Movement; another strand in
the National Movement-Revolutionaries,
Subhash Chandra Bose, and the Indian
National Army.

• Separatist movements in Indian politics- the

Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League;
Partition and Independence; The post -1945
developments.

• India independence to 1964. A

parliamentary, democratic, secular.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision, Foreign policy of
Non-alignment, Planning and state-
controlled industrialization. Agrarian
modification.

• The art, culture and architecture in the

ancient and medieval times are quite crucial
from the IAS exam perspective, although it
isn’t explicitly mentioned in the syllabus for
UPSC Prelims.

Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World -
Indian Geography

Indian and World Geography • The basic idea about India - Location,
latitude, longitude, time zone, -
Neighbouring countries- States and its
position and the states on International
boundaries - Important straits

• Physical features of India - The Himalayas -

Geological Formation - Physiographic
divisions - Climate, Vegetation, Soil and
Biodiversity - Major passes - Significance

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Recent issues

• The Great North Indian plains- Geological

Formation - Physiographic divisions -
Climate, Vegetation, Soil and Biodiversity,
Significance

• Peninsular Plateau - Geological formation,

Deccan plateau, Central Highlands,
Western and Eastern Ghats - Indian
Desert- Coastal plains and Islands- Socio-
economic issues related

• River systems – Characteristics,

comparison and significance- Himalayan
rivers - Peninsular rivers - River basins-
Hydro-Power projects, Power plants and
Major Dams- Regional development and
planning- West flowing and east-flowing
rivers- Interlinking of rivers-

• Climate in India – Monsoon- Driving

mechanism- Effects of La-Nino and El-
Nino- Recent theories-

• Season of India

• Cyclones-

• Mineral and industries- Distribution of

minerals- Industrial policies- Location
factors- Issues and challenges of the
industries- Industrial clusters

• Agriculture and Allied-characteristics and

Problems- Land utilization- Types of
agriculture practices- Soils and Crops-
Trends agriculture (Green revolution )-
Irrigation- Major irrigation projects- - Land
reforms - Government policies and
schemes- Animal husbandry (livestock
resources)

• Natural vegetation and fauna-

Characteristics, importance, comparison
and significance, Classification of natural
vegetation, Rainfall distribution- Wildlife
sanctuaries- National Forest Policy -

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Biosphere reserve- National parks-
Environmental issues- Red-listed species
(in recent news)

• Economic infrastructure, Transportation,

Road(National Highways)- Rail- Air-
Water(Major inland waterways) and its
Significance, Power and energy sector,
Sources of conventional and non-
conventional energy, Energy conservation
and crisis, Recent developments

• Human Geography- Demographics, Recent

census- 2011

World Geography & Physical Geography

World Geography & Physical Geography • Universe - Theories related to Solar

System- Theories related to the formation
of the universe- Recent updates on the
same

• The basic idea about Earth- The motion of

the Earth – Rotation and Revolution -
Latitudes and Longitudes- The inclination
of the Earth’s Axis – effect on seasons-
Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Tides and
their significance

• Geomorphology- Earth’s movement (exo-

genetic and endo-genetic) Earthquakes,
volcanic activity- The basic idea about
Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics -
Theory, Sea Floor Spreading –

• Interior of the earth- Lithosphere-

Interaction of lithosphere with other
spheres- Boundaries and composition-

• Mass Movements of landforms, erosion

and deposits- Basic information about
geographical landforms and their
significance- Rock system and

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Classification of Rocks,

• Climatology, Structure and composition of

the atmosphere, Factors controlling the
temperature distribution, Insolation and
terrestrial radiation- Heat budget, Global
warming and ozone layer, Humidity and
condensation, Clouds ,Classification of
clouds, Precipitation, Precipitation
mechanism, Different types and forms of
precipitation, Pressure belts- Atmospheric
circulation- Winds, Planetary Winds,
Seasonal and Local Winds, Cyclones
Tropical and Temperate cyclone,
Formation of cyclone, characteristics and
impact- Jet streams, Various atmospheric
phenomenon

• The hydrosphere, Bottom relief of ocean,

Salinity and temp variation, Ocean
Currents, Ocean deposit, Ocean resources,
Recent issues and development with ref to
oceanography- Eg: UNCLOS,

• Biosphere, Major Biomes, Flora and fauna-

International organization for biodiversity,
Conservation of Biodiversity- Recent
issues

• Economic geography - Map work - Places

in News

Note – Part of Geography portion and Environmental Ecology overlap in the syllabus of UPSC Prelims.

Indian Polity and Governance - As per the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, Polity portion comprises
Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Polity has a lot of static
and dynamic elements, and it has an overlap with the syllabus of UPSC Prelims and Mains.

Indian Polity and Governance • Preamble, Features of preamble, 42nd

Amendment, Swaran Singh committee,
• Special provision for Jammu and Kashmir-
Article 370.
• Schedules, The basic idea about 12
schedules

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Constitution of India, The basic idea about
All articles, Historical Background, Drafting
committee and the making of the
Constitution, Influence of other
constitutions, Its salient features

• Union and its Territory- The basic idea

about Article 1-4, State reorganisation and
different Commissions, Federal nature,
Recent issues

• Citizenship- The basic idea about Article 5-

11, PIO, NRI, OCI and Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas, Privileges available for Indian citizens
and foreigners, Citizenship Amendment Act
of 2016, New policies, schemes and recent
changes in voting.

• Fundamental Rights (FR), The basic idea

about Article 12-35, A thorough
understanding of Articles 14- 30 and Art.
32, Rights and privileges available to
citizens of India only and both to citizens
and foreigners, 44th amendment act-
Different types of Writs, Enforcement and
Exceptional cases with regard to FR’s, RTE
and recent issues related to FR

• Fundamental Duties(FD). Article 51A,

Difference between FR and FD, Significance
and Criticism, Enforcement of FD’s, Recent
issues about FD

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)-

The basic idea about Article and Article 36-
51 and Article 368- Sources and key
features of DPSP- Classification of DPSP-
Comparison/ conflicts between
Fundamental Rights and Directive
Principles- Keshavananda Bharathi,
Minerva Mills, Golaknath Case, Maneka
Gandhi case.- Important Amendments-
42nd Amendment, 44th Amendment, and
97th amendment

• Union - The basic idea about Article 52-73-

Qualification and Election- Function and
Powers- (Executive, Legislative, Financial,
Judicial, Diplomatic, Military and

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Emergency Powers)n Resignation and
impeachment

• Role and responsibilities and relationship

with Prime minister, Council of Minister,
Cabinet ministers.- Prime minister and
council of ministers- Basic idea about
Article 74-75- Powers and Functions -
Council of ministers- Resignation and
Removal- Attorney general

• Parliament- The basic idea about article

related- Role and functions of the
Parliament- Sessions, Motions,
Parliamentary procedure – Summoning,
Prorogation, Joint Sitting- Parliamentary
proceedings like Question Hour, Zero Hour,
and Adjournment Motion, etc. Lok Sabha
and Rajya Sabha - Special powers of Rajya
Sabha Anti-defection law and 10th
schedule- Parliamentary Privileges- Bill and
lawmaking procedure- Budget, funds and
it’s summary- Parliamentary Committees

• Judiciary- The basic idea about article

related to the judiciary. Powers of Supreme
court and high court- Qualification and
appointment- Removal procedure- Recent
controversy, verdicts, and constitutional
provisions.

• State Government- State Executive-

Governor- appointment, removal and
special powers.- Executive, Legislative,
Financial, Judicial powers and discretionary
of the governor- 7th constitutional
amendment- Chief minister and council of
ministers- Power of chief minister- State
Legislature-

• State legislature compared to the

Parliament with regard to composition,
powers, and functions. Bicameral
legislatures- Creation and abolition of the
Legislative councils

• Administration of Union Territories (UT) -

Special provision for Delhi- Administration
and jurisdiction in UT’s –

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Administration of Special Areas- Basic idea
about 5thSchedule 6th Schedule- Recent
issues related to Administration of Special
Areas- Difference between constitutional
provisions related to Jammu and Kashmir

• Emergency Provisions- National

emergency- Article 352- President’s rule or
State emergency- Article 356- Financial
emergency- Article 360- 44th amendment
act- Effects and implications of emergency-
Role of President in emergency time- The
State of FR, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha
Revoking emergency

• State- centre and interstate relations- The

basic idea about Articles 262 and 263-
Composition and functions of Interstate
council and Zonal council- Inter-State trade
and Commerce- Recent disputes between
states, controversies etc- New policies or
schemes which impact interstate relations

• Panchayati Raj and municipalities -

Elections, auditing, powers and authority of
panchayats - 3 tier structure- 73rd
Amendment Act and the 74th Amendment
Act- Relation with FR and DPSP - Schemes
introduced- Metropolitan planning
committee and urban development

• Reservation

• Constitution Bodies - Election Commission-

UPSC- SPSC- JPSC- Finance Commission
National Commission for SCs and ST’s, -
Composition, Powers and functions,
Removal of the Constitutional bodies

• Non-Constitutional Bodies- The basic idea

about Composition, Functions, Working of
the Non-Constitutional bodies such as
National Human Rights Commission,
Central Information Commission, Central
Vigilance Commission, Central Bureau of
Investigation, State Human Rights
Commission, State Information
Commission, etc.

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Tribunals- The basic idea about Article 323A
and tribunals under Article 323B- Recent
controversial issues related to tribunals-
Different tribunals and importance

• Special Provisions for SCs, STs, Backward

Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians-
Privileges and right issued to SC’s, ST’s,
Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-
Indians-Issues related to vulnerable
sections like women, child, SC’s, ST’s,
Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-
Indians

• Current affairs - Recent issues related to

above-mentioned categories- Important
schemes, programs, missions, laws, and
policies launched by the government.-
Recent Government Bills and Governance-
Actions

Economic and Social Development - Prelims mentions the broad topic Economic and Social
Development, which includes Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social
Sector initiatives, etc. While Indian Economy portion is common to the syllabus of UPSC Prelims and
Mains for Prelims, the focus should be on current affairs related to the Indian Economy and basic
concepts.

Economic growth and development - Basic concept and definition of Economy and economics, uses
and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and microeconomic policy, micro-macro
balance, distributive impact of economic policies, development versus growth, determinant of
growth and development, concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII, TAI, Green index,
sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices.

Economic and Social Development • Poverty – definitions, causes, distribution-

deprivation, income versus calories,
measurement of poverty, the status of
poverty, eradication programmes, poverty
and resource policy, tribal rights and
issues, livelihood mission.

• Inclusion – definition, relevance, types,

financial inclusion, recent initiatives.

www.civilserviceindia.com
 • Demographics – census data, populations
by gender, by state, by age group, socio-
economic status, caste, religion, literacy
levels, etc. Trends in human development
– interstate comparison, etc.

• Fiscal policy – definition, component,

receipts, revenue and capital account, tax
revenue, expenditure, budget.

General Science - In UPSC civil services prelims syllabus, candidates should not spend a lot of time
preparing General Science from theory books as most questions come from topics/issues in the
news. However, some focus areas as a comprehensive reference are given below.

General Science • Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift 2-

Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life
Cycle of A Star Solar System Formation –
Nebular Theory of Laplace Solar System –
Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets Sun –
Internal Structure, Atmosphere

• Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types,

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power
Programme

• Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs Animal Cell

Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides,
Polysaccharides Proteins – Amino Acids,
Enzymes, Vitamins and Minerals –
Deficiency Diseases, Fats – Healthy Fats
and Unhealthy Fats, Animal Tissues –
Epithelium, Connective Tissues

• Human Digestive System – Digestive

Glands, Respiratory System – NCERT
General Science Endocrine Glands and
Hormones, Human Neural System –
Human Brain, Muscular and Skeletal
System, Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA,
Recombinant DNA

• Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis

– Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison-
Inheritance Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance,

www.civilserviceindia.com
 Chromosomal Theory, Human Genome
Project - Sex Determination – Genetic
Disorders- Diseases Caused by
Microorganisms
• Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful
Microbes- Immunity – Human Immune
System AIDS, Cancer – causes- Drugs and
Alcohol Abuse

• Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable

Diseases- Blood – Blood Groups – Formed
Elements

• Circulatory System, Double Circulation-

Excretory System – Kidney, Urine
Formation

• Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

• Biological Classification- Five Kingdom

Classifications of Plants and Animals Plant
Parts and Their Functions- Plant Kingdom
– Halophytes, Bryophytes- Plants with
Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms-
Plant Tissue – Simple, Complex Permanent
Tissue Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis,
Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation- Sexual and
Asexual Reproduction in Plants

• Classification of Animal Kingdom

(Animalia)- Classification of Vertebrata
(Phylum Chordata) Human Reproductive
System- Biotechnology – Genetic
Engineering – Processes and Applications
Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom

www.civilserviceindia.com