UPSC PSC Prelims and Main Exam Syllabus : All you want to know

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The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type), Main Examination (Descriptive Type), and Personality Test (Interview).

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Here is a breakdown of the syllabus for the Prelims and Mains exams:

UPSC Preliminary Examination Syllabus (400 Marks)

The Prelims exam is a screening test consisting of two objective-type papers. Marks from Paper-I are considered for merit, while Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature (minimum 33% marks required).

PaperTotal MarksDurationSyllabus Overview
Paper-I: General Studies2002 HoursCurrent events of national & international importance. History of India & Indian National Movement. Indian & World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic). Indian Polity & Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues). Economic & Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives). General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity & Climate Change. General Science.
Paper-II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)2002 HoursComprehension. Interpersonal skills including communication skills. Logical reasoning & analytical ability. Decision making & problem solving. General mental ability. Basic numeracy (Class X level). Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency) (Class X level).
 
 

UPSC Main Examination Syllabus (1750 Marks for Merit)

The Mains exam consists of nine descriptive papers, of which seven are counted for merit, and two are qualifying language papers.

Qualifying Papers (300 Marks each – minimum 25% required)

  1. Paper A: One of the Indian Languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

  2. Paper B: English.

    • Syllabus for both includes Comprehension, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, and Short Essays. (Paper A also includes Translation.)

Paper No.SubjectMarksKey Topics/Focus Area
Paper-IEssay250Candidates must write an essay on a specific topic. Topics are usually philosophical, socio-economic, or current affairs-based.
Paper-IIGeneral Studies – I250Indian Heritage and Culture (Art Forms, Literature, Architecture), History of India (Modern Indian History, World History), Geography of the World and Society (Salient features, Effects of Globalization, Social empowerment).
Paper-IIIGeneral Studies – II250Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice (Functions and responsibilities of Union and States, Separation of Powers, Welfare Schemes), International Relations (India and its neighborhood, Bilateral, regional and global groupings).
Paper-IVGeneral Studies – III250Technology, Economic Development (Indian Economy, Planning, Mobilization of Resources), Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management (Science and Technology developments, Conservation, Internal Security challenges).
Paper-VGeneral Studies – IV250Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude (Ethics and Human Interface, Attitude, Emotional Intelligence, Contributions of Thinkers, Public/Civil Service Values, Probity in Governance, and Case Studies).
Paper-VIOptional Subject – Paper 1250Any one optional subject chosen by the candidate from a comprehensive list (e.g., Agriculture, Anthropology, Economics, History, Law, Mathematics, Public Administration, Sociology, various Literature subjects, etc.).
Paper-VIIOptional Subject – Paper 2250The second paper of the same optional subject.
 The total marks for the written part of the Mains are 1750. The Personality Test (Interview) carries an additional 275 marks, making the grand total 2025.

You can find a detailed analysis of the UPSC Mains General Studies papers in UPSC Mains General Studies Paper-II Detailed Analysis. This video provides a detailed breakdown of one of the General Studies papers in the UPSC Mains syllabus.

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