ClearIAS decodes the UPSC CSE Syllabus. Learn more about each of the keywords in the UPSC syllabus.
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On this page, you can browse through the online notes prepared by ClearIAS which covers the entire UPSC CSE syllabus for Prelims and Mains.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Prelims Keywords Explanation
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination has two papers – General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Prelims Paper-I – 200 marks
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
- General Science.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Prelims Paper-II – 200 marks
- Comprehension.
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
- Decision-making and problem-solving.
- General mental ability.
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level).
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Mains Keywords Explanation
UPSC CSE Main Examination has four General Studies Papers, one essay paper, two optional papers, and two qualifying papers.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Mains General Studies Paper-I – 250 marks
General Studies 1 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
INDIAN CULTURE
MODERN INDIAN HISTORY
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, and 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.
WORLD HISTORY
Events from the 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.
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
- Salient features of the world’s physical geography
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)
- 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, cyclones 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.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Mains General Studies Paper-II – 250 marks
General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
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
- 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 AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
- 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 the 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
- Citizen’s charters
- Transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
- Role of civil services in a democracy
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- India and its neighbourhood relations
- 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
- India’s soft power and cultural diplomacy
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Mains General Studies Paper-III – 250 marks
General Studies 3 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- 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.
AGRICULTURE
- 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.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in Science & technology
- Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
- Issues relating to intellectual property rights.
BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
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
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
UPSC CSE Syllabus: Mains General Studies Paper-IV – 250 marks
General Studies 4 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam consists of the below major areas: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
ETHICS AND HUMAN INTERFACE:
- Ethics and Human Interface
- Essence, determinants, and consequences of Ethics in human actions
- Dimensions of ethics
- Ethics in private and public relationships
HUMAN VALUES
- 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
- Attitude: content, structure, function
- Attitude and its influence and relation with thought and behaviour
- Moral and political attitudes
- Social influence and persuasion
APTITUDE
- 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
- Emotional intelligence – concepts
- Utilities and application of Emotional Intelligence in administration and governance
MORAL THINKERS AND PHILOSOPHERS
CIVIL SERVICE VALUES
- 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
- Ethical governance
- Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance
- Ethical issues in international relations and funding
- Corporate governance.
PROBITY IN GOVERNANCE
- Probity in Governance
- Concept of Public Service
- The 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
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