UPSC

CIVIL SERVICES
EXAM

SYLLABUS
THE EXAM CONSISTS OF THREE STAGES

UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

INTERVIEW

MAIN
EXAMINATION

PRELIMINARY
EXAMINATION

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
objective in nature consists of two papers

Paper I (Marks: 200 & Duration: 2 hours) Paper II (Marks: 200 & Duration: 2 hours)

Note- This paper will be qualifying in nature

with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

Current events of
national and Comprehension
international
importance

Economic and Social Development: Interpersonal skills

Sustainable Development, Poverty, including
Inclusion, Demographics, Social communication skills
Sector initiatives, etc.

Indian and World Geography: Logical

Physical, Social, Economic reasoning
Geography of India and the and
World analytical
ability

Indian Polity and

Governance: Decision-
Constitution, making and
Political System, problem
Panchayati Raj, solving
Public Policy,
Rights Issues,
etc.

General issues on
Environmental Basic numeracy
Ecology, Bio- (numbers and their
diversity and relations, orders of
Climate Change - magnitude, etc.)
that do not require (Class X level)
subject
specialisation

History of India and General mental

Indian National ability
Movement

Data interpretation
(charts, graphs, tables,
General Science data sufficiency etc. -
Class X level)

MAIN EXAMINATION
subjective in nature consists of total 9 papers

LANGUAGE & ESSAY

English Paper Indian Languages Paper Essay Writing Paper

(Qualifying (Qualifying (250 Marks)
Nature, Nature,
300 Marks) 300 Marks)

GENERAL STUDIES: CONSISTS OF 4 PAPERS

General Studies I General Studies II

Indian Heritage and Governance,
Culture, History and Constitution, Polity,
Geography of the Social Justice and
World and Society International relations
(250 Marks) (250 Marks)

General Studies III General Studies IV

Technology, Economic Ethics, Integrity and
Development, Bio-diversity, Aptitude (250 Marks)
Environment, Security
and Disaster Management
(250 Marks)

OPTIONAL SUBJECT: CONSISTS OF 2 PAPERS

Paper 1 Paper 2

GENERAL STUDIES I: INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, HISTORY AND

GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD AND SOCIETY (250 MARKS)

Indian Heritage and

Culture, History

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, The Freedom Struggle - its various
personalities, issues. stages and important contributors
/contributions from different parts
of the country Post-independence
consolidation and reorganization
History of the world will include within the country.
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.

Indian Society

Salient features of Indian Society,

Diversity of India.

Effects of globalization on Indian

society.
Social empowerment, communalism,
regionalism & secularism.
Role of women and women's
organization, population and
associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues,
urbanization, their problems
and their remedies.

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).
Salient features of world's
physical geography.
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 II: GOVERNANCE, CONSTITUTION, POLITY,
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (250 MARKS)

Constitution & Polity

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

Governance, Social Justice

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

International Relations

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 III: TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
BIO-DIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENT, SECURITY AND DISASTER
MANAGEMENT (250 MARKS)

Economic Development

Issues related to direct and indirect Major crops cropping patterns in

farm subsidies and minimum various parts of the country,
support prices; Public Distribution different types of irrigation and
System objectives, functioning, irrigation systems storage,
limitations, revamping; issues of transport and marketing of
buffer stocks and food security; agricultural produce and issues
Technology missions; economics of and related constraints;
animal-rearing. e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Indian Economy and

Inclusive growth and
issues relating to
issues arising from it.
planning, mobilization
Food processing and of resources, growth,
related industries in development and
India- scope and employment.
significance, location,
upstream and
Government
downstream
Budgeting.
requirements, supply
chain management.

Infrastructure:
Effects of liberalization Energy, Ports,
on the economy, Roads, Airports,
changes in industrial Railways etc.
policy and their effects
on industrial growth.

Investment models. Land reforms in India.

Technology

Science and Technology- Achievements of Indians Awareness in the

developments and their in science & technology; fields of IT, Space,
applications and effects indigenization of Computers, robotics,
in everyday life. technology and nano-technology,
developing new bio-technology and
technology. issues relating to
intellectual property
rights.

Bio-diversity, Environment

Conservation, environmental pollution

and degradation, environmental impact
assessment.

Disaster Management

Disaster and disaster management.

Security

Role of external state

and non-state actors in Security challenges and
creating challenges to their management in
internal security. border areas; linkages
Linkages between of organized crime with
development and terrorism.
spread of extremism.

Various Security forces Challenges to internal

and agencies and their security through
mandate. communication
networks, role of media
and social networking
sites in internal security
challenges, basics of
cyber security;
money-laundering and its
prevention.
 GENERAL STUDIES IV: ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE
(250 MARKS)

Probity in Governance: Concept of

public service; Philosophical basis of
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence,
governance and probity; Information
determinants and consequences of Ethics
sharing and transparency in
in human actions; dimensions of ethics;
government, Right to Information,
ethics in private and public relationships.
Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct,
Human Values - lessons from the lives and
Citizen's Charters, Work culture,
teachings of great leaders, reformers and
Quality of service delivery, Utilization
administrators; role of family, society and
of public funds, challenges of
educational institutions in inculcating
corruption.
values.

Aptitude and foundational values

for Civil Service: integrity,
impartiality and non-partisanship,
objectivity, dedication to public
Emotional intelligence: concepts,
service, empathy, tolerance and
and their utilities and application
compassion towards the
in administration and governance.
weaker-sections.

Attitude: content, structure,

Public/Civil service values and function; its influence and
Ethics in Public administration: relation with thought and
Status and problems; ethical behaviour; moral and
concerns and dilemmas in political attitudes; social
government and private influence and persuasion.
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 Contributions of moral
in international relations and thinkers and philosophers
funding; corporate governance. from India and world.

Case Studies on above

issues.

OPTIONAL PAPER CONSISTS OF 2 PAPERS. A CANDIDATE HAS

TO CHOOSE ONE OPTIONAL AMONG THE FOLLOWING BROAD
CATEGORIES:

Technical Subjects

Humanities Subjects

Literature Subjects

*This syllabus is based on notification released by UPSC for Civil Services Exam 2018. All aspriants
are advised to update themselves regarding any changes in the syllabus released in future.