1.
UPSC Exam Guide
The Civil Services Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) every year. It has three stages.
Civil Services Examination
Preliminary Mains Personality
Examination Examination Test
GS CSAT
100 Questions 80 Questions
200 Marks 200 Marks
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UPSC Exam Guide
GS
Current Affairs - Current events of national and international importance
History - History of India and Indian National Movement
Geography - Indian and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic
Geography of India and the World
Indian Polity & Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj,
Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic & Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty,
Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
Environment - General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and
Climate Change
Science - General Science
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UPSC Exam Guide
CSAT
Logical
reasoning and
Comprehension
Interpersonal analytical
skills including ability
communication
skills
Decision
Making and Basic
problem numeracy
General
solving
mental
ability
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UPSC Exam Guide
Things to note for Prelims of the year he/she is appearing in
examination the Preliminary Examination.
1. Questions relating to English Number of Attempts:
Language Comprehension skills
Category Age Limit Attempt
of Class X level (last item in the
General 32 6
syllabus of CSAT-II) will be tested
OBC 35 9
through passages in English
SC/ST 37 unlimited
Language only, without providing
Hindi translation thereof in the Disabled (HP) 42 9
(General)
question paper. Disabled (HP) 42 As per candidates
(Other category) category
2. The questions will be of Multiple
Choice and Objective Type.
5. • An attempt at a
It is important to note that there is Preliminary Examination
a negative marking for each shall be deemed to be an
wrong answer. A wrong answer attempt at the examination
will attract a penalty of 1/3rd of
• If a candidate actually appears
the marks allotted to that
in any one paper in the
particular question
Preliminary Examination,
he/she shall be deemed to
3. CSAT Paper II has been made have made an attempt at
qualifying from 2015. A candidate the examination
has to score a minimum of 33% of
• Notwithstanding the
the marks to qualify in this paper.
disqualification/ cancellation of
The marks scored in this paper
candidature, the fact of
will not be added to the marks
appearance of the candidate
scored in GS Paper I to arrive at
at the examination will count as
the cut-off to clear Prelims
an attempt
4. A candidate must have attained
the age of 21 years on 1st August,
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UPSC Exam Guide
6. Preliminary Examination of the (xiii) Indian Railway Accounts Service,
Civil Services Examination shall Group 'A'
be held for recruitment to the
(xiv) Indian Railway Personnel Service
Services & Posts mentioned below: (xv) Post of Assistant Security
(i) Indian Administrative Service Commissioner in Railway
Protection Force, Group ‘A’
(ii) Indian Foreign Service
(xvi) Indian Defence Estates Service,
(iii) Indian Police Service Group ‘A’
(iv) Indian P & T Accounts & Finance (xvii) Indian Information Service
Service, Group ‘A’ (Junior Grade), Group ‘A’
(v) Indian Audit and Accounts (xviii) Indian Trade Service, Group 'A'
Service, Group ‘A’ (Gr. III)
(vi) Indian Revenue Service (xix) Indian Corporate Law Service,
(Customs and Central Excise), Group "A"
Group ‘A’
(xx) Armed Forces Headquarters
(vii) Indian Defence Accounts Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section
Service, Group ‘A’ Ocer’s Grade)
(viii) Indian Revenue Service (IT), (xxi) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar
Group ‘A’ Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman &
Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
(ix) Indian Ordinance Factories
Civil Service, Group 'B'
Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant
Works Manager, Administration) (xxii) Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar
Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman &
(x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli
(xi) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Police Service, Group 'B'
Group ‘A’
(xxiii) Pondicherry Civil Service, Group 'B'
(xii) Indian Railway Trac Service,
(xxiv) Pondicherry Police Service,
Group ‘A’
Group 'B
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2. Subject-wise Weightage
Here is an analysis of the number of questions from each subject in the last
nine UPSC Prelims (General Studies I) Exams:
Current Science &
Affairs History Geography Polity Economy Technology Environment
2011 13 11 11 12 19 19 15
2012 26 17 12 11 13 9 12
2013 28 11 9 13 15 11 13
2014 20 17 12 11 10 13 17
2015 29 14 14 13 13 7 10
2016 27 15 7 7 18 8 18
*Analysis by BYJU’S IAS
2017 34 14 7 22 8 4 11
2018 28 15 8 13 16 7 13
2019 22 17 14 15 14 7 11
In the past few years, Current Affairs has had the highest weightage in the
syllabus of Prelims Examination
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3. Mains Examination
(Subjective/Descriptive Type)
Mains Examination
(Subjective/Descriptive Type)
Qualifying Papers to be
Papers counted for Merit
Paper - A Paper - B Paper - 1 Paper - Paper -
2 to 5 6&7
(One of the Indian Languages English
to be selected by the 300 Marks Essay GS 1 Optional
candidate from the (3 hrs) 250 Marks (4 Papers) (2 Papers)
languages included in the (3 hrs)
Eighth Schedule to the
Constitution).
300 Marks (3hrs)
General General General General
Studies – I Studies – II Studies – III Studies – IV
250 Marks (3 hrs) 250 Marks (3 hrs) 250 Marks (3 hrs) 250 Marks (3 hrs)
(Indian Heritage and (Governance, (Technology, Economic (Ethics, Integrity and
Culture, History and Constitution, Polity, Development, Aptitude)
Geography of the Social Justice and Biodiversity,
World and Society) International Relations) Environment,
Security and Disaster
Management)
Optional Paper-1 Optional Paper-2
250 Marks (3 hrs) 250 Marks (3 hrs)
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Mains Exam Syllabus
GS Paper-I
HISTORY include events from the 18th
century such as the industrial
Art & Culture revolution, world wars, redrawal
Salient Aspects of Art Forms of national boundaries,
colonization, decolonization,
Literature and Architecture from political philosophies like
ancient to modern times communism, capitalism,
Ancient & Medieval History socialism, etc, their forms and
effects on the society
Modern History
Mid 18th century to present- GEOGRAPHY
significant events, Personalities,
and Issues World & Indian Physical Geography
The Freedom Struggle- its Salient Features of the World's
various stages and important Physical Geography
contributors/contributions from Distribution of key natural
different parts of the country resources across the world
Post-independence (including South Asia and the
consolidation and reorganization Indian sub-continent)
within the country Factors responsible for the
location of primary, secondary,
World History and tertiary sector industries in
The history of the world will various parts of the world
(including India)
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ExamPreparation
Prep 09
Mains Exam Syllabus
Important Geophysical Phenomenon Role of Women & Women
Empowerment
Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic
activity, Cyclone, etc. Population and Associated
Issues
Geographical features and their
location- changes in critical Poverty & Developmental Issues
geographical flora and fauna and
Urbanization
the effects of water-bodies and
ice-caps) and in features Effects of Globalization on Indian
(including such changes) Society
Social empowerment,
communalism, regionalism &
GEOGRAPHY secularism
Salient Feature of Indian Society,
Diversity of India
GS Paper-II
INDIAN POLITY levels, and challenges therein
Indian Constitution- historical Separation of powers between
underpinnings, evolution, various organs, dispute redressal
features, amendments, mechanisms, and institutions
significant provisions, and basic Comparison of the Indian
structure constitutional scheme with that
Functions and responsibilities of of other countries
the Union and the States, issues, Parliament and State Legislatures -
and challenges pertaining to the structure, functioning, the conduct
federal structure, devolution of of business, powers & privileges
powers and finances up to local and issues arising out of these
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Mains Exam Syllabus
Structure, organization, and Bilateral, regional and global
functioning of the Executive and groupings and agreements
the Judiciary, Ministries, and involving India and/or affecting
Departments of the Government; India's interests. Effects of
pressure groups and policies and politics of
formal/informal associations and developed and developing
their role in the Polity countries on India's interests,
Indian diaspora
Salient features of the
Representation of People's Act Important International
institutions, agencies and their
Appointment to various
structure, mandate
Constitutional posts, powers,
functions, and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies
Social Justice
Statutory, regulatory, and various
Welfare schemes for vulnerable
quasi-judicial bodies
sections of the population by the
Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes;
Governance
mechanisms, laws, institutions
Important aspects of and bodies constituted for the
governance, transparency and protection and betterment of
accountability, e-governance these vulnerable sections
applications, models, successes,
Issues relating to development
limitations, and potential; citizens
and management of Social
charters, transparency &
Sector/Services relating to
accountability and institutional
Health, Education, Human
and other measures
Resources
Role of civil services in a
democracy
International Relations
India and its neighborhood
relations
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Mains Exam Syllabus
GS Paper-III
ECONOMY industries in India- scope and
significance, location, upstream
Indian Economy and issues and downstream requirements,
relating to planning, mobilization supply chain management
of resources, growth,
development and employment Land reforms in India
Inclusive growth and issues Effects of liberalization on the
arising from it economy, changes in industrial
policy and their effects on
Government Budgeting industrial growth
Major crops, cropping patterns in Infrastructure: Energy, Ports,
various parts of the country, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
different types of irrigation and
irrigation systems storage, Investment models
transport and marketing of
agricultural produce and issues
and related constraints; SCIENCE AND
e-technology in the aid of TECHNOLOGY
farmers
Science and Technology-
Issues related to direct and developments and their
indirect farm subsidies and applications and effects in
minimum support prices; Public everyday life
Distribution System objectives,
Achievements of Indians in
functioning, limitations,
science & technology;
revamping; issues of buffer
indigenization of technology and
stocks and food security;
developing new technology
Technology missions; economics
of animal-rearing Awareness in the fields of IT,
space, computers, robotics,
Food processing and related
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Mains Exam Syllabus
nano-technology, bio-technology Challenges to internal security
and issues relating to intellectual through communication
property rights International networks, role of media and
Relations social networking sites in internal
security challenges
Basics of cyber security;
ENVIRONMENT & money-laundering and its
prevention
ECOLOGY
Security challenges and their
Conservation
management in border areas;
Environmental pollution and linkages of organized crime with
degradation terrorism
Environmental impact Various Security forces and
assessment agencies and their mandate
INTERNAL SECURITY DISASTER
Linkages between development
and spread of extremism
MANAGEMENT
Disasters and disaster
Role of external state and
management
non-state actors in creating
challenges to internal security
GS Paper-IV
ETHICS, INTEGRITY consequences of Ethics in
human actions; dimensions of
AND APTITUDE ethics; ethics in private and
Ethics and Human Interface: public relationships. Human
Essence, determinants, and Values – lessons from the lives
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Mains Exam Syllabus
and teachings of great leaders, sources of ethical guidance;
reformers, and administrators; accountability and ethical
the role of family, society, and governance; strengthening of
educational institutions in ethical and moral values in
inculcating values governance; ethical issues in
international relations and
Attitude: content, structure,
funding; corporate governance
function; its influence and
relation with thought and Probity in Governance: Concept
behavior; moral and political of public service; Philosophical
attitudes; social influence basis of governance and probity;
and persuasion Information sharing and
transparency in government,
Aptitude and foundational
Right to Information, Codes of
values for Civil Service, integrity,
Ethics, Codes of Conduct,
impartiality and non-partisanship,
Citizen’s Charters, Work culture,
objectivity, dedication to public
Quality of service delivery,
service, empathy, tolerance, and
Utilization of public funds,
compassion towards the
challenges of corruption
weaker sections
Case Studies on the
Emotional intelligence-concepts,
above issues
and 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
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