UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION-UPSC

It is India’s premier central recruitment agency for recruitment of IAS, IPS, IFoS & all the Group ‘A’ & Group ‘B’ officers under Government of India.

UPSC CIVIL SERVICE EXAM is both a prestigious and very competitive exam within the nation. Every year, a large number of candidates submit their applications, but only a select few get successful through the final selection process. This exam becomes competitive due to its challenging difficulty level and the extensive coverage of the syllabus. It is nationwide competitive examination in India conducted to the 23 Civil Services of the Government of India, including

All India Services:

  1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS),
  2. Indian Police Service (IPS).
  3. Indian Forest Service (IFoS)

Central Services:

  1. Indian Revenue Service (IRS),
  2. Indian Foreign Service (IFS), various other group A and B services.

Educational qualification: Any Degree from a recognized University or equivalent. (Final year degree students are also eligible)

Frequency of exam: Annual

Exam PatternUPSC Civil Services exam consists of three stages:
UPSC PRELIMS EXAM PATTERN

The UPSC CSE Prelims is divided into two papers: General Studies I and CSAT. The CSAT paper is of a qualifying nature, meaning you need to secure the minimum passing marks to move on to the next stage. However, your score in the General Studies Paper I will be crucial as it determines whether you qualify for the UPSC MAINS

UPSC SYLLABUS AND EXAM PATTERN FOR PRELIMS

Particulars

Details

Two Compulsory Papers

General Studies Paper-I

General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)

Number of Questions asked in GS Paper-I

100 Questions

Number of Questions asked in CSAT

80 Questions and is Qualifying in nature

Total Number of Marks

GS Paper-I – 200 Marks

CSAT – 200 Marks

Negative Marking

1/3 of the total marks allotted to the question will be deducted for every wrong answer

Time Allotted

Two hours each:

  • GS Paper-I – 2 Hours (9:30 AM -11:30 AM)
  • CSAT – 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
UPSC PRELIMS SYLLABUS

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Prelims exam has two papers namely General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II each paper carrying 200 marks. These papers comprise multiple-choice, objective-type questions. It’s important to note that the marks obtained in the preliminary examination will not be considered for the final ranking; their purpose is to qualify candidates for the main examination.

PAPER 1: GENERAL STUDIES

PAPER 2: CSAT

The General Studies 1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus covers various important subjects such as History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology, General Science, and Current Affairs-based events.

·       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 the World.

·       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, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.

·       General Science.

General Studies 2 of the UPSC CSE is commonly known as the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper. It became a mandatory qualifying paper for all candidates starting in 2011. This paper is a crucial part of the UPSC CSE Prelims exam and aims to evaluate the candidate’s aptitude, analytical skills, and reasoning ability. To pass this paper, every candidate must obtain at least 33% of the total marks (66 marks out of 200).

  • 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), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)
UPSC MAINS EXAM PATTERN

Once candidates clear the UPSC prelims, they become eligible to appear for the mains examination.

The UPSC Mains Syllabus comprises nine papers, but only seven of them are considered for the final merit ranking. For the remaining two papers, candidates must secure the minimum marks specified by the UPSC each year to be eligible for the final ranking.

In the UPSC Civil Service Exam, a candidate’s rank is determined solely by the marks obtained in the Main Exam and the Interview. The Main Exam carries a total of 1750 marks, while the Interview holds 275 marks.

To gain a better understanding of the General Studies paper for the mains, refer to the table below.

UPSC GENERAL STUDIES MAINS PATTERN

General Studies Paper

Topics Covered

Paper A Paper B

Any Indian Language (compulsory) – qualifying paper

English(Compulsory) – Qualifying Paper

Paper 1

Essay (Candidate can choose to write it in a medium of your choice)

Paper 2 – General Studies I

General Studies Paper I consists mainly of History and Geography of the World and Society, Indian Heritage and Culture. This paper mainly revolves around History, Geography and Society.

Paper 3 – General Studies II

General Studies Paper II consists mainly of Polity, Constitution, Governance, Social Justice and International relations.

Paper 4 – General Studies  III

General Studies Paper III consists mainly of Economic Development, Technology, Environment, Biodiversity, Security and Disaster Management.

Paper 5 – General Studies  IV

General Studies Paper IV consists mainly of Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.

Paper 6- Optional Paper I

Optional Subject

Paper 7- Optional Paper II

Optional Subject

UPSC MAINS ENGLISH (QUALIFYING PAPER)

The English paper in UPSC Mains is a qualifying paper, meaning its marks are not counted for the final merit ranking. However, it is mandatory to pass this paper with a minimum score of 75 out of 300 marks.

The purpose of the paper is to test the candidate’s understanding of basic English comprehension, grammar, and writing skills.It ensures that candidates have the minimum level of proficiency needed to write answers effectively in English (if they choose English as their medium).

Typical components include:

  1. Essay Writing (usually around 600 words)
  2. Precis Writing
  3. Reading Comprehension
  4. Grammar & Usage (e.g., sentence correction, fill in the blanks, synonyms/antonyms)

The level of difficulty is equivalent to Class 10/Matriculation standard. Candidates must clear this paper along with the Indian Language paper (also qualifying) to have their GS and optional papers evaluated. It requires clarity, coherence, and correct use of grammar rather than literary flair.

UPSC MAINS – INDIAN LANGUAGE (QUALIFYING PAPER)

The Indian Language paper is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to read, write, and understand a modern Indian language, as listed in the Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The marks obtained in this paper are not counted for the final merit list, but clearing it is mandatory with a minimum score of 75 out of 300 marks for further evaluation of the main examination papers.

The aim is to ensure that candidates have a basic and functional grasp of a modern Indian language, sufficient to understand administrative communication and express themselves clearly. Candidates must choose one language from the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Components of the Paper

  1. Essay Writing – Tests ability to express ideas clearly in a structured form.
  2. Precis Writing – Summarizing passages accurately and concisely.
  3. Translation – From English to the chosen Indian language & From the Indian language to English
  4. Comprehension – Understanding and answering questions based on a passage.
  5. Grammar and Usage – Sentence correction, syntax, vocabulary, etc.
MAINS ESSAY SYLLABUS

The UPSC Essay Paper is divided into two sections, each containing four topics. For each essay written, candidates can earn a score out of 125, with a total of 250 marks available for both sections combined.

In the UPSC Civil Service Exam, candidates will be required to write essays on a variety of topics. The essays should be concise and directly address the given topic. Candidates should also organize their thoughts effectively. The essay paper offers an opportunity for candidates to score well and boost their overall rank with careful preparation.

SYLLABUS FOR MAINS EXAMINATION (GENERAL STUDIES)
UPSC MAINS GENERAL STUDIES I SYLLABUS:

This paper is designed to assess candidate’s knowledge and understanding of these diverse topics.

UPSC MAINS GENERAL STUDIES II SYLLABUS: 

The UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies II Paper includes essential subjects like Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and Interrelations. This paper is designed to evaluate candidates’ understanding of these significant topics.

UPSC MAINS GENERAL STUDIES III SYLLABUS: 

The UPSC Mains General Studies III Syllabus covers a wide range of subjects, including Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management, and Environmental studies.

UPSC MAINS GENERAL STUDIES IV SYLLABUS:

The UPSC Mains Syllabus for GS Paper 4 includes topics Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude paper in UPSC Mains aims to evaluate the candidate’s values, ethical standards, and problem-solving abilities in various situations. It focuses on assessing how candidates handle integrity and probity in public life and deal with challenges and disputes in society. The paper often uses a case study approach to test these elements comprehensively.

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

In the UPSC Syllabus, Papers 6 and 7 consist of optional subject papers, and these are compulsory for candidates. These papers offer an opportunity for candidates to score well, as they usually cover subjects that align with their graduation or areas of interest.

Each optional subject has its own detailed syllabus, which candidates should carefully review before making their selection. Several factors, like the subject’s syllabus, available resources for preparation, and the time required for studying, should be considered when choosing the best optional subject for the UPSC Mains exam.

UPSC OPTIONAL SUBJECTS LIST:

Agriculture

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science

Anthropology

Public Administration

Sociology

PSIR

Botany

Chemistry

Civil Engineering

Commerce and Accountancy

Economics

Electrical Engineering

Geography

Geology

History

History

Zoology

Law

Mathematics

Management

Mechanical Engineering

Medical Science

Philosophy

Physics

Statistics

LITERATURE OF ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES:

Assamese Literature, Dogri Literature, Marathi Literature, Bodo Literature, English Literature, Odia Literature, Bengali Literature, Urdu Literature, Nepali Literature, Malayalam Literature, Sanskrit Literature, Gujarati Literature, Konkani Literature, Punjabi Literature, Hindi Literature, Manipuri Literature, Sindhi Literature, Kashmiri Literature, Maithili Literature, Santhali Literature, Kannada Literature, Tamil Literature, Telugu Literature