UPSC Syllabus

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography:
  • Physical Geography
  • Social & Economic Geography of India
  • World Geography
• Indian Polity and Governance:
  • Constitution
  • Political System
  • Panchayati Raj
  • Public Policy
  • Rights Issues
• Economic and Social Development:
  • Sustainable Development
  • Poverty, Inclusion
  • Demographics
  • Social Sector Initiatives
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change – (non-specialised)
• General Science

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers, orders of magnitude, Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency – Class X level)

Note: This paper is qualifying in nature. Candidate must score minimum 33% marks.

• Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, Architecture from ancient to modern times
• Modern Indian History – from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present
• Significant events, personalities, issues of the Freedom Struggle
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
• History of the world – including events such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies (communism, capitalism, socialism) and their effects on society
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
• Role of women and women’s organizations, population & associated issues, poverty and developmental issues
• Urbanization – problems and remedies
• Effects of globalization on Indian society
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
• Salient features of world’s physical geography
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia & Indian subcontinent)
• Factors responsible for location of primary, secondary, tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
• Important geophysical phenomena – earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones
• Changes in geographical features and their effect on flora and fauna

• Indian Constitution – Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure
• Functions & responsibilities of the Union & States, issues & challenges pertaining to the federal structure
• Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels, 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, business conduct, powers, privileges, issues
• Executive and Judiciary – structure, organization, functioning, Ministries, departments
• Representation of People’s Act – salient features
• Appointment to constitutional posts, powers, functions & responsibilities of constitutional bodies
• Statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
• Development processes and the development industry – role of NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities, institutional stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, mechanisms, institutions and bodies constituted for protection and betterment
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger
• Important aspects of governance – transparency, accountability, e-governance (applications, models, successes, limitations, potential)
• Citizens’ Charters, transparency & accountability, institutional and other measures
• Role of civil services in a democracy
• India and its neighborhood relations
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings & agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
• Effect of policies & politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
• Indian diaspora
• Important international institutions, agencies and fora – their structure and mandate

• Indian Economy – issues and challenges, planning, resource mobilization, growth, development and employment
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
• Government Budgeting
• Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, storage, transport & marketing of agricultural produce, issues & related constraints, e-technology in aid of farmers
• Issues relating to direct & indirect farm subsidies, MSP, buffer stocks & food security
• Technology missions
• Economics of animal rearing
• Food processing & related industries in India – scope, significance, location, upstream & downstream requirements, supply chain management
• Land reforms in India
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy & their effects on industrial growth
• Infrastructure – energy, ports, roads, airports, railways
• Investment models
• Science & Technology developments and their applications & effects in everyday life
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology, indigenization of technology, developing new technology
• Awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Conservation, environmental pollution & degradation
• Environmental impact assessment
• Disaster and disaster management
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism
• Role of external state & non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, media & social networking sites
• Basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges & management in border areas, linkages of organized crime with terrorism
• Various security forces and agencies and their mandate

• Ethics and Human Interface – Essence, determinants & consequences of Ethics in human actions
• Dimensions of ethics, ethics in private & public relationships
• Human values – lessons from great leaders, reformers, administrators
• Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
• Attitude – content, structure, function; influence & relation with thought and behavior
• Moral & political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
• Aptitude & foundational values for Civil Services – integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, compassion
• Emotional intelligence – concepts, utilities, application in administration & governance
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India & world
• Public/Civil service values & Ethics in Public administration
• Status & problems; ethical concerns & dilemmas in government and private institutions
• Laws, rules, regulations & conscience as sources of ethical guidance
• Accountability & ethical governance
• Strengthening of ethical & moral values in governance
• Ethical issues in international relations & funding
• Corporate governance
• Probity in Governance – concept of public service, philosophical basis of governance & probity
• Information sharing & transparency in government, RTI, codes of ethics, citizen’s charters
• Work culture, quality of service delivery, utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
• Case studies on above issues