UPSC Mains Syllabus 2020

UPSC Exam General Studies- PAPER I

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:

 Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from
ancient to modern times.
 Modern Indian history include the significant events, personalities, issues during the
middle of the eighteenth century until the present
 Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the
country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’
 Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
 History of the world includes events, forms and effect on the society from 18th century
like world wars, industrial revolution, colonization, redrawal of national boundaries,
decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc
 Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society
 Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty
and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and remedies
 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
 Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia and the Indian
sub-continent; factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary
sector industries in various parts of the world including India
 Effects of globalization on Indian society
 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
 Salient features of world’s physical geography

UPSC Exam General Studies- PAPER II

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
 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
 Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and
institutions
 Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies
 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
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
 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
  Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
Health, Education, Human Resources
 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
 Issues relating to poverty and hunger
 Role of civil services in a democracy
 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India’s interests
 India and its neighborhood- relations
 Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate
 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
Indian diaspora

UPSC Exam General Studies- PAPER III

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management:

 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment.
 Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
 Government Budgeting.
 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
 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
 Economics of animal-rearing.
 Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
 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
 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.
 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact
assessment
 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-
technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
 Disaster and disaster management.
 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
 Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-
laundering and its prevention
 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
 Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime
with terrorism
UPSC Exam General Studies- Paper IV
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude: This paper includes questions to check the candidate’s attitude
and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his/her problem solving
approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him/her while dealing with society. Questions
may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects and covers area:

 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; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
 Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and
behaviour; 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 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 above issues