IAS UPSC Syllabus 2024 Detailed Exam Pattern and Subject-Wise Breakdown

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) annually in India. The exam consists of three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview. Below is the detailed syllabus for the UPSC CSE 2024.

Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

The Prelims consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (also known as CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test). Both papers are objective type and carry 200 marks each.

General Studies Paper I:

1. Current events of national and international importance.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
7. General Science.

General Studies Paper II (CSAT):

1. Comprehension.
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
4. Decision-making and problem-solving.
5. General mental ability.
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level).
7. English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).

Main Examination (Mains)

The Mains examination consists of nine papers of conventional essay type, out of which two are qualifying papers. The marks obtained in the remaining seven papers are counted for ranking.

Qualifying Papers:

1. Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks): Any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
2. Paper B – English (300 marks):

Papers to be counted for Merit:

1. Essay (Paper I – 250 marks)
2. General Studies I (Paper II – 250 marks): Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
3. General Studies II (Paper III – 250 marks): Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
4. General Studies III (Paper IV – 250 marks): Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
5. General Studies IV (Paper V – 250 marks): Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.
6. Optional Subject Paper I (Paper VI – 250 marks):
7. Optional Subject Paper II (Paper VII – 250 marks):

Personality Test/Interview (275 marks)

The candidates who clear the Mains examination are called for the Interview, which assesses the candidate’s personality, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for a career in public service.

Optional Subjects

Candidates can choose any one of the following subjects as their optional paper:

• 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, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.

Preparation Tips:

• Stay Updated: Regularly read newspapers and follow credible news sources for current events.
• Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly go through the syllabus and understand what is required.
• Practice Writing: Answer writing practice is crucial for Mains. Develop a habit of writing concise and effective answers.
• Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to evaluate your preparation and identify areas for improvement.
• Optional Subject Mastery: Choose an optional subject that you are comfortable with and focus on mastering it.

The UPSC syllabus is comprehensive and requires a strategic approach to cover all aspects effectively. Consistent preparation and staying updated with current affairs are key to success.

Detailed Exam Pattern UPSC Syllabus 2024

Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

The Preliminary Examination is the first stage and comprises two objective-type papers:

Paper I: General Studies (200 marks, 2 hours)

• 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

Paper II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) (200 marks, 2 hours, qualifying with 33% marks)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency – Class X level)
• English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level)

Main Examination (Mains)

The Main Examination consists of nine papers of conventional essay type, of which two are qualifying and seven are counted for merit.

Qualifying Papers:

1. Paper A: Indian Language (300 marks)

• Candidates can choose any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

1. Paper B: English (300 marks)

Papers to be Counted for Merit:

1. Paper I: Essay (250 marks)

• Candidates may be required to 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.

1. Paper II: General Studies I (250 marks)

• Indian Heritage and Culture
• History and Geography of the World and Society
  • 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.
  • The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
  • History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc. — their forms and effect on the society.
  • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
  • Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and their remedies.
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society.
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  • Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
  • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
  • 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.

1. Paper III: General Studies II (250 marks)

• Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
  • 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.
  • 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 the 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.
  • 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.

1. Paper IV: General Studies III (250 marks)

• Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
  • Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development, and employment.
  • Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  • Government Budgeting.
  • Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
  • Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
  • Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
  • Land reforms in India.
  • Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial growth.
  • Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
  • Investment models.
  • Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
  • Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
  • Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  • Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
  • Disaster and disaster management.
  • Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
  • Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  • Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
  • Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
  • Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

1. Paper V: General Studies IV (250 marks)

• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
  • Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; the role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values.
  • Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
  • Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality, and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections.
  • Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
  • Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
  • Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private 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 in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
  • Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
  • Case Studies on the above issues.

1. **Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject Papers I & II (250 marks each)**

• Candidates can choose any one subject from the list of optional subjects provided by UPSC. Each subject has two papers.

Personality Test/Interview (275 marks)

The interview assesses the candidate’s suitability for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The objective is to evaluate the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public services by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The interview is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only their intellectual qualities but also social traits and their interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, a balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.

Optional Subjects List

Candidates can choose any one of the following subjects as their optional paper:

• 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, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.

Preparation Tips:

• Stay Updated: Regularly read newspapers and follow credible news sources for current events.
• Understand the Syllabus: Thoroughly go through the syllabus and understand what is required.
• Practice Writing: Answer writing practice is crucial for Mains. Develop a habit of writing concise and effective answers.
• Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to evaluate your preparation and identify areas for improvement.
• Optional Subject Mastery: Choose an optional subject that you are comfortable with and focus on mastering it.

The UPSC syllabus is extensive and requires a strategic approach to cover all aspects effectively. Consistent preparation, thorough understanding of the syllabus, and staying updated with current affairs are key to success.