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UPSC SYLLABUS

GS-1 - Indian Heritage and Culture, History and

Geography of the World and Society.

History
 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.

Indian 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.

Geography
 Salient features of world’s physical geography.
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 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).
 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.

GS-2 - Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice

and International relations.

Indian Polity
 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.
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 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.

Governance
 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.

International Relations
 India and its neighborhood- relations.
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 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.

GS-3 -Technology, Economic Development, Bio

diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management

Indian Economy
 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.
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 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 & Tech

 Science and Technology- developments and their
applications and effects in everyday life.
 Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
initialization of technology and developing new
technology.
 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics,
nanotechnology, bio-technology and issues relating to
intellectual property rights.

Environment & Disaster Management

 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,
environmental impact assessment.
 Disaster and disaster management.

Internal Security
 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.
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 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

GS-4- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Theory Section
This paper will include questions to test the candidate’s
attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity
in public life and his problem-solving approach to various
issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.
Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine
these aspects. The following broad areas will be 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 the World.
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 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 Section

Case Studies on the above issues.