What is the Syllabus of UPSC exams?

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) syllabus for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) is comprehensive and divided into three main stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview). Here is a detailed breakdown of each stage:

UPSC Prelims Syllabus

The Prelims exam consists of two papers, both of which are objective in nature:

General Studies Paper 1 (GS Paper 1)

• Covers subjects such as:
  • History (Indian and World)
  • Polity
  • Geography
  • Indian Economy
  • Environment
  • Science and Technology
  • Current Affairs145.

Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) or General Studies Paper 2 (GS Paper 2)

• Includes topics such as:
  • English Comprehension
  • Logical Reasoning and Analytical Skills
  • Quantitative Aptitude145.

Key Points

• Each paper is of 200 marks.
• The duration for each paper is 2 hours.
• There is a negative marking of 1/3rd for wrong answers.
• For CSAT, candidates need to score at least 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify125.

UPSC Mains Syllabus

The Mains exam is descriptive in nature and consists of nine papers:

Qualifying Papers

• Paper A: Any Indian Language (compulsory) - 300 marks
• Paper B: English - 300 marks
  • These papers are qualifying in nature and require a minimum of 25% marks (75 marks) to pass125.

Essay Paper

• Paper 1: Essay - 250 marks
  • Candidates can write the essay in the medium of their choice125.

General Studies Papers

• Paper 2: General Studies 1 (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) - 250 marks
• Paper 3: General Studies 2 (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) - 250 marks
• Paper 4: General Studies 3 (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) - 250 marks
• Paper 5: General Studies 4 (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) - 250 marks
  • This includes topics like Human Interface & Ethics, Attitude, Aptitude, Emotional Intelligence, and Contributions135.

Optional Subject Papers

• Paper 6: Optional Subject Paper 1 - 250 marks
• Paper 7: Optional Subject Paper 2 - 250 marks
  • Candidates can choose any optional subject from the list provided by UPSC125.

Key Points

• The Mains exam is conducted over 5 days.
• Each paper, except the language papers, can be written in any language mentioned in Schedule 8th of the Indian Constitution.
• There is no negative marking in the Mains exam.
• The marks from all papers except the language papers are counted towards the final merit list125.

Personality Test (Interview)

• This is the final stage of the selection process.
• The interview assesses the candidate's personality, including qualities such as mental alertness, clear and logical exposition, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgement, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
• The interview is worth 275 marks125.

Understanding the syllabus and exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation and to ensure that candidates are well-prepared for each stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination.