UPSC Civil Services (IAS) Complete Syllabus
Stages of UPSC Exam:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective)
- Main Examination (Descriptive)
- Personality Test (Interview)
1. Preliminary Examination
Paper I – General Studies (200 Marks)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj)
- Economic and Social Development
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
- General Science
Paper II – CSAT (200 Marks, Qualifying)
- Comprehension
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (Class X level)
- Data interpretation
2. Main Examination
Total Papers: 9
7 Papers counted for merit + 2 qualifying papers
7 Papers counted for merit + 2 qualifying papers
Qualifying Papers
- Paper A – Indian Language (300 Marks)
- Paper B – English (300 Marks)
Paper I – Essay (250 Marks)
- Candidates write two essays on given topics.
Paper II – General Studies I (250 Marks)
- Indian Heritage and Culture
- History and Geography of the World and Society
Paper III – General Studies II (250 Marks)
- Indian Constitution
- Governance
- Social Justice
- International Relations
Paper IV – General Studies III (250 Marks)
- Technology
- Economic Development
- Biodiversity, Environment
- Security and Disaster Management
Paper V – General Studies IV (250 Marks)
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
- Case Studies
Optional Subject Papers (250 Marks each)
- Paper VI – Optional Subject Paper I
- Paper VII – Optional Subject Paper II
3. Personality Test (Interview)
- Total Marks: 275
- Assessment of personality traits
- Communication skills
- Decision-making ability
- Leadership qualities
- Awareness of current issues
UPSC Marking Structure
| Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Prelims | 400 (Only qualifying for Mains) |
| Mains (Written) | 1750 |
| Interview | 275 |
| Total | 2025 |
Important Notes for UPSC Aspirants
- Prelims marks are not counted in final merit.
- CSAT requires minimum 33% to qualify.
- Final ranking is based on Mains + Interview.
- Optional subject selection is very important.
Most Important Subjects for Preparation
- Indian Polity
- Modern History
- Economy
- Environment
- Current Affairs
- Ethics