UPSC

(UNION PUBLIC SERVICE

COMMISSION)

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
SYLLABI
 SCHEME OF EXAMINATION :
Preliminary Examination (Objective)
Mains Examination (Written/Subjective/Essay)
Interview/Personality Test

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION:
Two papers
GS Paper I – 100 Questions/Each – 2 Marks/200 Marks
GS Paper II – 80 Questions/Each – 2.5 Marks/200 Marks

Note:
(i) Type – objective (multiple choice questions).
Duration - two hours.
(ii) The General Studies Paper-II - a qualifying paper (minimum
qualifying marks fixed at 33%.)
(iii) Question paper language - in Hindi and English.
(iv) Negative Marks – 1/3rd (0.33) of the total.
 Detailed Preliminary Syllabus:
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, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that *do not
require subject specialization.
7. General Science.

Paper II
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
7. interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level);
 MAIN EXAMINATION

PAPERS SUBJECT MARKS

QUALIFYING - 25 %
A ONE OF THE INDIAN LANGUAGES – IN THE EIGHTH SCHEDULE TO 250
THE CONSTITUTION
B ENGLISH 250
COUNTED FOR MERIT
I ESSAY 250
II/GS I INDIAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF 250
THE WORLD AND SOCIETY
III/GS II GOVERNANCE, CONSTITUTION, POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND 250
INTERNRATION RELATIONS
IV/GS III TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BIO-DIVERSITY, 250
ENVIRONMENT, SECURITY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
V/GS IV ETHIC, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE 250
VI OPTIONAL SUBJECT (PSYCHOLOGY) - 1 250
VII OPTIONAL SUBJECT (PSYCHOLOGY) - 2 250
SUB TOTAL 1750
(WRITTEN TEST)

PERSONALITY 275
TEST
GRAND TOTAL 2025
MAINS DETAILED SYLLABUS:

to assess - intellectual traits and depth of understanding.

a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study.
awareness of a variety of subjects - relevance for a career in Civil Services
to test – basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view
on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands.
Answers - relevant, meaningful and succinct.
Credit - for orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words.

QUALIFYING PAPERS ON INDIAN LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH:

To test
ability to read and understand serious discursive prose.
to express ideas clearly and correctly.
The pattern:
English Language: Indian Languages :
(i) Comprehension of given passages. (i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing. (ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary. (iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays. (iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian
Language and vice-versa.

Note :
Matriculation or equivalent standard.
To answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian
language (except where translation is involved).
COUNTED
FOR
MERIT
 PAPER-I
ESSAY
Multiple topics.

To keep closely to the subject - to arrange ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely.

Credit - effective and exact expression.

 PAPER-II
GENERAL STUDIES-I:
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-
significant events, personalities, issues.
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 18th century such as industrial revolution,
world wars, redrawal 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 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.
 PAPER-III
GENERAL STUDIES- 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.
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 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.
 PAPER-IV
GENERAL STUDIES-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.
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, nano-technology, bio−technology
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, 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.
 PAPER-V
GENERAL STUDIES- IV
ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE
To test - candidates’:
attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life.
problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with
society.
*Questions - may utilize - the case study approach.
Areas covered:
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.
 INTERVIEW/PERSONALITY TEST

a Board - before them a record of the candidate’s career.

ask questions on matters of general interest.
Objective:
To assess the personal suitability for a career in public service.
To judge the mental calibre of a candidate.
In broad terms - an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and
interest in current affairs.
Qualities to be Judged:
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 technique - natural, though directed and purposive conversation - to reveal the mental
qualities of the candidate.
Expectations:
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.