UPSC exam Syllabus 2023 - IAS Syllabus For Mains

Syllabus of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows :

English Paper

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Précis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays

Indian Languages Paper

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.
• Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

Essay Paper

This paper has no prescribed syllabus. Candidates may be required to write essays on a variety of subjects. They will be expected to stick to the topic of the essay, arrange their ideas in an orderly manner, and write concisely. Effective and precise expression will be rewarded.

General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

• From ancient to modern times, Indian culture will cover the most important aspects of art forms, literature, and architecture.
• Significant events, personalities, and issues in modern Indian history from the middle of the eighteenth century to the present.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and significant contributors/contributors from various parts of the country.
• Consolidation and reorganisation of the country following independence.
• World history will include events from the 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonization, political philosophies such as communism, capitalism, socialism, and so on — their forms and effects on society.
• The highlights of Indian society, India’s diversity.
• The role of women and women’s organisations, population and related issues, poverty and development issues, urbanisation, its problems and solutions.
• Globalization’s impact on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism, and secularism are all important concepts.
• Highlights of the world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources around the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors influencing the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries around the world (including India).
• Important geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, and so on, as well as geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice caps) and flora and fauna, and the effects of such changes.

General Studies paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations):

• Historical foundations, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, and basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges related to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to the local level, and challenges associated with this.
• Power division among various organs, dispute resolution mechanisms, and institutions
• The Indian constitutional scheme is compared to that of other countries.
• Parliament and state legislatures—structure, operation, business conduct, powers and privileges, and issues arising from these.
• Structure, organization, and operation of the Executive and Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations, and their role in the Polity.
• The highlights of the People’s Representation Act.
  Appointment to various Constitutional offices, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory, and quasi-judicial bodies exist.
  Government policies and interventions for development in a variety of sectors, as well as the issues that arise from their design and implementation.
• The role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders in development processes and the development industry.
• Welfare schemes implemented by the Centre and States for vulnerable segments of the population, as well as their performance; mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies established to protect and improve the lives of these vulnerable segments.
• Development and management of the Social Sector/Services in Health, Education, and Human Resources.
• Concerns about poverty and hunger.
• Transparency and accountability are important aspects of governance, as are citizen charters, transparency and accountability, and institutional and other measures.
• The function of civil services in a democracy.
• India’s relations with its neighbors.
• Groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests at the bilateral, regional, and global levels.
• The impact of developed and developing countries’ policies and politics on India’s interests, as well as the Indian diaspora. Important international institutions, agencies, and fora–structure and mandate.

General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

• The Indian economy and issues concerning resource planning, mobilization, growth, development, and employment.
• The implications of inclusive growth.
• Budgeting by the government.
• 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.
• Direct and indirect farm subsidies, as well as minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
• The scope and significance of the food processing and related industries in India, as well as their location, upstream and downstream requirements, and supply chain management.
• India’s land reforms.
• The effects of economic liberalization, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial growth.
  Infrastructure includes things like energy, ports, roads, airports, and railways.
• Investment strategies.
• Science and technology developments, as well as their applications and consequences in daily life.
• Indian achievements in science and technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of information technology, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, pollution and degradation of the environment, and environmental impact assessment are all issues that must be addressed.
• Management of disasters and disasters.
• Relationships between extremism’s development and spread.
• External state and non-state actors’ roles in posing threats to internal security.
• Internal security threats posed by communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security threats, the fundamentals of cyber security, and money-laundering prevention.
• Border security challenges and management – links between organized crime and terrorism.
• The mandates of various security forces and agencies.

General Studies- IV: (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

• This paper will include questions designed to assess the candidates’ attitudes and approaches to issues of integrity, probity in public life, and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts encountered in dealing with society. To determine these aspects, questions may employ the case study approach. The following broad topics will be addressed:

• Human Interaction and Ethics: Ethics in human actions: the essence, determinants, and consequences; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons learned from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators; the role of family, society, and educational institutions in instilling values.

• Attitude: Content, structure, and function; its influence on thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion

• Aptitude and fundamental values for civil service, such as integrity, impartiality, and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion for the underprivileged.
• Concepts of emotional intelligence and their utility and application in administration and governance
• Moral thinkers and philosophers from India and around the world have contributed.
• Public/civil service values and public administration ethics: Status and problems in government and private institutions; 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 the aforementioned issues.

Optional Subject Papers I & II

Candidate may choose any optional subject from amongst the List of Optional Subjects:

1. Psychology
2. Political Science and International relations
3. Public Administration
4. Management
5. Commerce & Accountancy
6. Electrical Engineering
7. Anthropology
8. Mathematics
9. Physics
10. Geology
11. History
12. Law
13. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
14. Mechanical Engineering
15. Statistics
16. Zoology
17. Medical Science
18. Philosophy
19. Chemistry
20. Botany
21. Sociology
22. Civil Engineering
23. Geography
24. Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.