UPSC Civil Services Examination

Preliminary Syllabus
Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I ‐ (200 marks) Duration: Two hours
 Current events of national and international importance.
 History of India and Indian National Movement.
 Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of
India and theWorld.
 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.
 General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate
Change - that do notrequire subject specialization.
 General Science.

Paper II‐(200 marks) Duration : Two hours

 Comprehension;
 Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
 Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
 Decision making and problem solving;
 General mental ability;
 Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
(Class X level), Datainterpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency
etc. — Class X level);

Note 1 : Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a

qualifying paper withminimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

Note 2 : The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.

 Main Examination Syllabus
General Studies 1
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and
Society
 Indian Culture - 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/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.
 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).
 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.
 General Studies 2
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.
 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/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.
 General Studies 3
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.
 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, Bio-technology 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; Money-Laundering 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.
 General Studies 4
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 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.
Essay: (250 Marks)
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be
expected tokeep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in
orderly fashion, and to writeconcisely. Credit will be given for effective and
exact expression.
QUALIFYING PAPERS ON INDIAN LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH
Both English & Indian Language paper will be for 300 mark each
A candidate must score 25% (75/300) to qualify.
The aim of the paper is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand
serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English
and Indian language concerned.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Note 1 : The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or
equivalentstandard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in
these papers will not becounted for ranking.