1. UPSC Main Paper-A: Compulsory Indian Language

This paper tests a candidate’s proficiency in a chosen Indian language.

 Comprehension of given passages.

 Precis Writing.

 Usage and Vocabulary.

 Short Essays.

 Translation between English and the chosen Indian Language.

2. UPSC Main Paper-B: English Language

This paper assesses a candidate’s command over the English language.

 Comprehension of given passages.

 Precis Writing.

 Usage and Vocabulary.

 Short Essays.

3. UPSC Main Paper-I: Essay

This paper requires candidates to write essays on multiple topics, divided into two sections. Aspirants must choose one topic from each section, writing a total of two essays. The UPSC expects essays to be well-structured, relevant to the topic, and effectively express coherent ideas.

4. UPSC Main Paper-II: General Studies-I

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) This paper delves into the rich tapestry of India’s past and present, alongside global historical and geographical contexts.
Key areas of study include:

 Indian Culture: Exploring prominent facets of Indian art forms, literature, and architectural styles from ancient to modern periods, etc.

o Visual Arts: This covers Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, and other related forms, etc.

o Performing Arts: Focuses on Dance, Music, Theatre, Puppetry, and various other performing traditions, etc.

o Literature: Important literary works across major Indian languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Tamil, and more, etc.

o Diverse Cultural Elements: Encompasses significant movements and philosophies such as Buddhism, Jainism, various Schools of Philosophy, the Sufi Movement, the Bhakti Movement, and so forth, etc.

 Modern Indian History (mid-18th century to present): Examining pivotal events, influential personalities, and critical issues shaping this era.

o Significant Events: Includes major developments from the decline of the Mughal Empire to the establishment of British Rule in India, the Revolt of 1857, and other crucial occurrences, etc.

o Personalities: Studies the views and contributions of prominent Indian historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, and others, etc.

o Key Issues: Analyzes the impact of British Policies in India, particularly concerning the Economy, Education, Press, Land administration, and similar issues, etc.

 The Freedom Struggle: Understanding its various phases, with emphasis on important contributors and contributions from different regions of the country, etc.

o Covers the Rise of Nationalism, and both Pre-Gandhian and Gandhian Movements, etc.

o Explores the Role of different societal sections in India’s freedom struggle, including Peasants, Tribals, Women, Letiists, and other groups, etc.

 Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization: Focusing on the period following India’s independence, etc.

o Topics include Partition, Integration of Princely States, Reorganization of States,   and significant developments during the tenures of all the Prime Ministers of India, etc.

o Also covers the Evolution of planning and economic development, India’s Foreign Policy, and the Rise of Popular Movements in India, etc.

 World History: Encompasses events from the 18th century onwards, such as the Industrial Revolution, World Wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, and influential political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism, etc., alongside their various forms and societal impacts, etc.

o Includes the Beginning of the Modern Age, the Rise of Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution, and Revolutionary and Nationalist Movements like the American Revolution, French Revolution, and others, etc.

o Covers Imperialism and Colonialism; World War-I; major developments between World War-I and World War-II (e.g., the rise of Fascism, the emergence of the Soviet Union); World War-II; and significant developments a􀅌er World War-II, such as the Cold War, the rise of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and so forth, etc.

 Salient Features of Indian Society and Diversity of India:

o Examines major elements contributing to the diversity of Indian Society, such as Caste, Religion, Languages, and associated issues, etc.

 Role of Women and Related Societal Issues: Explores women’s role and their organizations, population and related challenges, poverty and developmental concerns, urbanization, its problems, and their remedies, etc.

o Traces the Evolution of the Women’s Liberation Movement from the mid-18th century to the present, etc.

o Addresses issues stemming from a high rate of population growth, such as poverty, migration, and measures to control population growth, etc.

o Covers social issues arising from developmental processes, including Regional Divide, Rural Backwardness, Urbanization, and related concerns like the development of slums, etc.

 Effects of Globalization on Indian Society:

o Analyzes different phases of Globalization and their impacts on India’s Culture, Religion, Politics, and other aspects, etc.

 Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism:

o Discusses Challenges faced by vulnerable sections of Indian society, including Women, Children, Minorities, Dalits, and others, etc.

o Covers the Evolution of Communalism and Regionalism, the challenges they pose, and the Basic tenets of Indian Secularism, etc.

 Salient Features of World’s Physical Geography:

o Physical Geography: Includes Latitude & Longitude, Geomorphology, Oceanography, Climatology, Biogeography, Environmental Geography, and other relevant aspects, etc.

 Distribution of Key Natural Resources and Industrial Location: Explores the distribution of key natural resources worldwide (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent) and factors influencing the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India), etc.

o Focuses on key natural resources like Major Minerals, Energy Resources, and their distribution in India and globally, etc.

o Examines Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary industries and the factors influencing their locations in India and around the World, etc.

o Includes other facets of Social and Economic Geography, such as growth & distribution of population, agriculture, transport, and so forth, etc.

 Important Geophysical Phenomena and Geographical Changes: Covers events like Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Volcanic Activity, Cyclones, etc., along with geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps), and in flora and fauna, as well as the effects of such changes, etc.

o Studies geographic phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., their genesis, impacts, and more, etc.

o World Geography: Details the continents and major geographic features within them, such as Mountains, Plateaus, Rivers, and others, etc.

o Indian Geography: Covers Physiographic Divisions of India, Drainage System of India, Indian Climate, Soils, and Vegetations of India, etc.

5. UPSC Main Paper-III: General Studies-II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

This paper focuses on the foundational principles of Indian governance, the legal framework, societal structures, and India’s role on the global stage. Key topics include:

 Indian Constitution: Its historical underpinnings, evolution, salient features, amendments, significant provisions, and the basic structure doctrine, etc.

o Covers the Evolution and salient features of the Constitution; Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policies, Fundamental Duties; the Process of amendment, and the Basic Structure, etc.

 Union and States – Functions and Responsibilities: Issues and challenges related to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances to local levels, and inherent challenges, etc.

o Examines Indian Federalism and its features; Centre-state relations and associated issues; Inter-state relations and related issues; Cooperative Federalism; Emergency provisions, etc.

o Includes the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and issues faced by them; and the 74th Constitutional Amendment, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and challenges they encounter, etc.

 Separation of Powers and Dispute Redressal Mechanisms:

o Covers the Doctrine of separation of powers and constitutional provisions pertaining to it; and the System of checks and balances, etc.

o Addresses Functional overlaps among various organs of the government and issues arising therefrom; Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions such as the Inter-State Council, Judiciary, NITI Aayog, and others, etc.

 Comparative Constitutional Schemes: A comparison of the Indian constitutional framework with those of other countries, etc.

o Identifies Major sources of the Indian Constitution; and compares major features of the Indian Constitution with those of other democracies, etc.

 Parliament and State Legislatures: Their structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges, and issues arising from these, etc.

o Details the Structure, functions, and major issues related to Parliament and State Legislatures (e.g., misuse of Money Bill, inadequate legislative control over the Executive); Parliamentary Committees; Sovereignty of Parliament; Parliamentary Privileges, etc.

 Executive and Judiciary – Structure, Organization, and Functioning: Also covers Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity, etc.

o Executive: Powers and functions of the President and Governor; Parliamentary System of Government and functioning of the Union and State Council of Ministers, etc.

o Judiciary: Powers and functions of the Supreme Court and High Courts and related issues (e.g., Judicial Accountability, Judicial Overreach); Subordinate Courts, their structures and functions; Lok Adalats, Gram Nyayalayas, and so forth, etc.

o Examines Pressure Groups, their functions, and significance, etc.

 Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act:

o Covers Major provisions of the Representation of People’s Acts of 1950 and 1951; the Election System in India and related issues (e.g., Model Code of Conduct, Criminalization of Politics), etc.

 Constitutional and Statutory Bodies: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies, alongside Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies, etc.

o Constitutional Bodies: Major Constitutional Bodies of India (e.g., Election Commission of India, Finance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General), their functions and issues relating to them, etc.

o Statutory Bodies: Major Statutory Bodies (e.g., Securities Exchange Board of India, National Human Rights Commission), their functions and related issues, etc.

o Regulatory Bodies: Major Regulatory Bodies (e.g., Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Competition Commission of India), their functions and issues, etc.

o Quasi-Judicial Bodies: Major Quasi-Judicial Bodies (e.g., National Green Tribunal, Central Information Commission), their functions, and issues, etc.

 Government Policies and Interventions for Development: Issues arising from their design and implementation across various sectors, etc.

o Examines Major schemes and policies of the government related to areas such as Drinking Water, Sanitation, and similar sectors, along with remaining challenges, etc.

 Development Processes and Industry: The role of NGOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional, and other stakeholders in development, etc.

o Discusses Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, SHGs, their functions, significance, and associated issues; Participatory governance and people’s participation in governance, etc.

 Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections: Performance of these schemes by the Centre and States; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for their protection and betterment, etc.

o Focuses on Vulnerable sections such as Women, Children, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and others, the challenges they face, and initiatives taken for their betterment, etc.

 Social Sector/Services – Development and Management: Issues relating to Health, Education, Human Resources, and other areas, etc.

o Covers Major schemes and policies of the government related to Health, Education, Employment, Skill Development, and remaining challenges, etc.

 Poverty and Hunger: Issues relating to their development and management.

o Analyzes Poverty, its causes, implications, and steps taken to alleviate it, etc.

 Governance, Transparency, and Accountability: Important aspects including egovernance (applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential); citizen charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures, etc.

o Defines Transparency and Accountability, their meaning, significance, and steps taken to promote them; discusses Corruption in India, etc.

o Explores e-Governance, its meaning, significance, applications, and challenges in implementation, etc.

o Covers Citizen Charter, its meaning, benefits, and challenges in its implementation, etc.

 Role of Civil Services in a Democracy:

o Examines the Role of Civil Services in governance; Reforms in civil services, their need, and recommendations of major committees thereon, etc.

 India and its Neighborhood: Relations with neighboring countries, etc.

o Focuses on India’s bilateral relationship with its neighboring countries such as Pakistan, China, Nepal, and others, etc.

 Bilateral, Regional, and Global Groupings and Agreements: Involving India and/or affecting India’s interests, etc.

o Covers India’s bilateral relationship with major countries of its interests, such as Russia, the USA, and others, etc.

o Discusses Regional and Global Groupings such as BRICS, SAARC, G-20, and similar forums, etc.

 Impact of Global Policies on India: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, and the role of the Indian diaspora, etc.

o Analyzes Major developments from across the globe which impact India’s interests, such as the Ukraine War, changes in US Visa Policy, and so forth, etc.

o Examines the Indian Diaspora, their roles in promoting India’s interests, and challenges faced by them, etc.

 International Institutions, Agencies, and Fora: Their structure and mandate, etc.

o Covers International bodies such as the UN, IMF, WHO, and others, their structure, functions, and challenges faced by them, etc.

6.UPSC Main Paper-IV: General Studies-III

(Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

This paper covers a wide range of contemporary issues, from economic reforms and technological advancements to environmental protection and internal security challenges.
Key topics include:

 Indian Economy: Issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment, etc.

o Examines Planning in India, its achievements & failures, and challenges faced; primary tools for mobilization of resources such as government budgeting, taxation, disinvestment, and so forth, etc.

o Traces the Growth path of the Indian economy from independence until now, and issues related to it, such as Regional Disparity, etc.

o Discusses Employment and skill development, challenges therein, and initiatives taken to promote them, etc.

 Inclusive Growth: Issues arising from it, etc.

o Covers Inclusive growth, challenges, and initiatives taken; Issues related to inclusive growth such as poverty, income inequality, and more, etc.

 Government Budgeting:

o Analyzes the Government Budget, its types, issues with the budgeting process, and related issues such as Gender Budgeting; Other Fiscal Policies of the government, etc.

 Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Major crops and cropping pa􀆩erns across the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural produce, issues and related constraints; e-technology in aid of farmers, etc.

o Covers Major crops of India such as Rice, Wheat, and others, and their cropping pattern across the country, etc.

o Examines Major types of irrigation systems prevalent in India, and issues therein, etc.

o Discusses Storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural goods, their needs and issues therein, etc.

 Agricultural Policies and Food Security: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System (PDS) – objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing, etc.

o Analyzes Different types of agricultural subsidies, their needs and issues therein, etc.

o Covers Agricultural price policies of the government; Minimum Support Price (MSP), its needs and issues therein, etc.

o Examines PDS, its needs, limitations, and initiatives taken to revamp it, etc.

o Discusses Food Security, its present status in India, challenges associated with it, steps taken to achieve it (e.g., Buffer Stock), and related issues such as Hunger, Food Safety, etc.

o Highlights Major technology missions related to agriculture in India, such as the Green Revolution, National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology, promotion of Farm Mechanisation, and others, etc.

o Covers the Livestock sector, its significance, challenges faced by it, and steps taken, etc.

 Food Processing and Related Industries: Their scope and significance in India, location, upstream and downstream requirements, and supply chain management, etc.

o Examines Food Processing Industries, their potential and present status in India, significance for India, challenges faced, and steps taken, etc.

 Land Reforms in India:

o Discusses Factors necessitating land reform in India, its progress, and challenges hindering its way, etc.

 Economic Liberalization and Industrial Policy: Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial growth, etc.

o Analyzes Liberalization, policy changes made under it, and their impacts on different sectors of the economy (e.g., external trade, foreign investment, agriculture), etc.

o Traces Industrial Policy, its need and evolution from the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948 through the New Industrial Policy of 1991 up to the present, etc.

 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, and so forth, etc.

o Details Major industrial infrastructures as mentioned, steps taken for their development, challenges (e.g., financing, land constraints), and other related issues, etc.

 Investment Models:

o Discusses the Need for investment in the Indian economy, its types (e.g., Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)), and related issues, etc.

o Covers Types of investment models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), their advantages and limitations, and steps taken to promote them, etc.

 Science and Technology: Developments, their applications, and effects in everyday life, etc.

o Examines Major emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, and others, their applications and impacts, etc.

o Highlights the Role of Science & Technology in areas such as Health, Education, Agriculture, etc., major developments in those directions, and issues arising out of them, etc.

 Achievements of Indians in S&T and Indigenization: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology, etc.

o Covers the Development of science & technology in India since the 1950s up to now, and major achievements (e.g., atomic energy, missiles, space), etc.

o Discusses Steps taken towards indigenization of technologies in major sectors such as Defense, Manufacturing, and so forth, etc.

 Awareness in Specific Tech Fields and IPR: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights, etc.

o Examines Major developments in the fields of IT & Computers, Nano-Technology, Bio-Technology (e.g., GM Crops, AI), their applications, and issues related to them, etc.

o Covers Intellectual Property Rights such as Patent, Geographical Indications (GI), and others, their benefits, and issues related to them, etc.

 Environmental Concerns: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.

o Details Efforts taken for the conservation of natural resources such as forests, wildlife, rivers, etc., at both Indian and international levels, etc.

o Analyzes Environmental pollution, its major types, causes, and their impacts such as Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, and more, etc.

o Discusses Environmental Impact Assessment, its need, initiatives taken, and challenges faced, etc.

 Disaster and Disaster Management:

o Covers Basic concepts related to Natural Hazards, Disasters, and Disaster Management; Different phases of disaster management, steps taken in India (e.g., the Disaster Management Act of 2005), etc.

o Examines Major types of disasters concerning India such as Flood, Drought, and Earthquake, etc., their causes, impacts, and steps taken to mitigate them, etc.

 Internal Security – Linkages with Development and Extremism: Linkages between development and spread of extremism, etc.

o Explores the Relation between developmental issues and the rise of extremism; Various forms of extremism in India (e.g., Lett-Wing Extremism, Insurgency), factors aiding their rise, challenges posed by them, steps taken to contain them, and remaining challenges, etc.

 Role of External Actors in Internal Security: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security, etc.

o Addresses Security challenges posed by external state actors (e.g., Pakistan, China); Security challenges posed by non-state actors (e.g., Terrorism, Smuggling), etc.

 Cyber Security, Media, and Money Laundering: 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, etc.

o Discusses Security challenges posed by social media and other forms of media (e.g., propagation of extremism, rumor-mongering), etc.

o Covers Cyber security, its significance, steps taken, and challenges faced, etc.

o Analyzes Money laundering, its process, challenges posed by it, and steps taken, etc.

 Border Security and Organized Crime: Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism, etc.

o Examines Land and Coastal Borders of India, challenges in their management, and

steps taken, etc.

o Covers Organized crimes, their types (e.g., Trafficking, Smuggling), challenges posed by them, their connection with terrorism, and steps taken to tackle them, etc.

 Security Forces and Agencies: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate, etc.

o Details Major security agencies of India (e.g., Central Armed Police Forces, Intelligence Agencies), their functions, and related issues, etc.

7. UPSC Main Paper-V: General Studies-IV

This paper evaluates 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 nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections.

 Emotional Intelligence Concepts: 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: Practical application of the above ethical issues through case studies.

8. UPSC Main Paper-VI & VII: Optional Papers I and II

Candidates are required to choose one optional subject from the comprehensive list provided in the official UPSC CSE notification. The syllabus for each optional subject is distinct and specific to that discipline. These two papers (Paper I and Paper II of the chosen optional subject) test advanced knowledge in the selected field.

The Personality Test (Interview)

As the third and conclusive stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the Personality Test is a viva-voce examination. During this stage, candidates face an interview board. The UPSC does not prescribe a defined syllabus for this segment. However, insights from previous interviewees suggest that questions commonly revolve around the candidate’s Detailed Application Form (DAF), topics of general interest, and current affairs. This stage aims to assess not just knowledge, but mental alertness, critical thinking, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in public service.