General Studies

General Studies Syllabus for UPSC Main Examination

General Studies form the core of Civil Services Mains exams and the marks scored plays a big
role in preparing the merit list of the Mains results. Each General Studies paper carries 250
marks and combing them would offer 1000 marks out of 1750 marks Mains exam. Questions in
the General Studies papers tests candidate's basic understanding of the subjects. So merely
answering them will not be enough and aspirants must tailor make the answer to the question.
Besides, answers must be relevant, meaningful and concise answers to impress the examiner.

How to approach General Studies ?

• Current Affairs - A major section of the General Studies exam is derived from current
affairs of the previous year.
• Word limit - Before attempting the question, write briefly, eloquently and within word
limits.
• Logical thinking - Try puzzles and quizzes to improve logical and analytical thinking.
• Language skills - Good language skills will greatly help in a long way in correctly
presenting your knowledge.
• Understand concepts - Never memorize the concepts without understanding the
statements.
• Case studies - Try to understand the study examples and case studies where applicable
• Study sample papers - Read and go through previous year papers and sample papers to
try and identify trends.
• Practice sample papers - Indulge in practicing of sample papers within the time limits to
increase speed.
• Preplan - Plan out your answer before writing in terms of content logical and
conclusions are effective.
• Collect - Prepare the syllabus with from various sources as you can.
• Revision - Revise at least thrice the subjects before the exam.
• How to Prepare for General Studies

1
Paper-I

Essay-250 Marks

Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expectedto keep
closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write
concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

Paper-II

General Studies -I 250 Marks

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the
present significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions
from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
• 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.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty
and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of world's physical geography.

2
 • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the
Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and
tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity,
cyclone etc., geographical features and their location - changes in critical geographical
features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of
such changes.

Paper-III

General Studies -II: 250 Marks

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions and basic structure.
• 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.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• 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; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and
their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

3
 • Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• 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.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to
Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India's interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests,
Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Paper-IV

General Studies -III 250 Marks

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster

Management)

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• 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.

4
 • 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.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday
life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and
developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology,
biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact
assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and
social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security;
moneylaundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime
with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Paper-V

General Studies -IV 250 Marks

(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

• This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues
relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various
5
 issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case
study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered

• 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.

• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and
behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

• 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.

• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and

governance.

• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

• 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.

• 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.

• Case Studies on above issues.