The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Exam Syllabus is divided into three categories, namely Preliminary, Mains and Interview.
The Preliminary syllabus is mainly designed to assess a candidate's comprehension of current affairs and aptitude within the stipulated time. The preliminary paper is a compulsory and qualifying paper.
The Mains syllabus is basically designed to judge a candidate's academic expertise in his/her specialised subject. The syllabus also focuses on testing aspirants' ability to present knowledge in a clear and coherent manner.
The main examination has 9 papers and the syllabus is designed according to the subjects specified. The Preliminary and Mains syllabus is designed for the written test. Candidates, who emerge successful in the Preliminary and Main examination, can appear for the interview.
The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to shortlist the candidates for various posts such as IAS, IPS and IFS. The Preliminary Examination is the first round of the selection process. Aspirants should appear for two General Studies papers of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. They should note that General Studies Paper-II is also known as Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) which is a qualifying paper with minimum obtaining marks fixed at 33%.
General Studies | No Of Questions | No of Marks | Duration |
Paper-I | 100 | 200 | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
Paper-II | 80 | 200 | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
Total | 180 | 400 | 240 minutes (4 hours) |
The Commission will release the list of candidates shortlisted for the Civil Services Main Exam based on merit and reservation. Around 12-13 times the total number of vacancies will be shortlisted to take the Main Exam. Aspirants should understand that the Main Exam is the crucial phase in IAS selection procedure. This phase tests the candidates on various subjects. The Main Exam consists of nine conventional (descriptive) papers out of which two are qualifying.
Paper | Subject | Marks |
Paper-A (Qualifying Paper) | Indian Language (One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution) | 300 |
Paper-B (Qualifying Paper) | English | 300 |
Paper-I | Essay | 250 |
Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
Paper-III | General Studies -II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) | 250 |
Paper-IV | General Studies -III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper-V | General Studies -IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 |
Paper-VI | Optional Subject - Paper 1 | 250 |
Paper-VII | Optional Subject - Paper 2 | 250 |
Sub Total | Written Test | 1750 |
Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | |
Grand Total | 2025 |
The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
Indian Languages
Note: The syllabus for Indian Language and English will be of matriculation or equivalent standard. These papers are of qualifying nature and marks obtained will not be counted for final merit. Aspirants should answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
Aspirants should write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to 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.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Case Studies on above issues.
Candidates may choose any optional subject from amongst the list of optional subjects. Aspirants can also choose one Indian language as an optional subject amongst the list.
Agriculture | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Anthropology |
Botany | Chemistry | Civil Engineering |
Commerce and Accountancy | Economics | Electrical Engineering |
Geography | Geology | History |
Law | Management | Mathematics |
Mechanical Engineering | Medical Science | Philosophy |
Physics | Political Science and International Relations | Psychology |
Public Administration | Sociology | Statistics |
Zoology | Literature of any one of the following languages |
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.
Candidates who have qualified in the Civil Services Main Examination will be called for the final stage of the selection process, i.e., Personality Test (Interview). It will carry a total of 275 marks. The number of candidates will be called shortlisted for an interview is twice the number of vacancies. The board will test the candidates on various areas starting from his/her career to general interest.
The assessment will be on the intellectual qualities along with their social traits and his interests in current affairs. It will also assess the candidate's mental caliber. The qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.
The official CSE notification reads, “The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.”
It also added, “The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers.
Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well-educated youth.”
Note: There is no specific syllabus for IAS Interview, hence, we advise candidates to work more on their personality. The final merit will be based on marks obtained in the Main Examination and Personality Test.