UPSC Syllabus Overview
| Paper | Topic | S.No |
|---|---|---|
| GS 1 | Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. | 1 |
| GS 1 | Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present-significant events, personalities, issues. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country | 2 |
| GS 1 | Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country. | 3 |
| GS 1 | History of the world will include events from 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. | 4 |
| GS 1 | Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent) | 5 |
| GS 1 | Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India) | 6 |
| GS 1 | Salient features of world’s physical geography ,Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location | 7 |
| GS 1 | Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes | 8 |
| GS 1 | Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. | 9 |
| GS 1 | Role of women and women’s organization | 10 |
| GS 1 | Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, their problems and their remedies. | 11 |
| GS 1 | Urbanization, their problems and their remedies | 12 |
| GS 1 | Effects of globalization on Indian society. | 13 |
| GS 1 | Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. | 14 |
| GS 2 | Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. | 15 |
| GS 2 | 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. | 16 |
| GS 2 | Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. | 17 |
| GS 2 | Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries | 18 |
| GS 2 | Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these. | 19 |
| GS 2 | Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies | 20 |
| GS 2 | Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government | 21 |
| GS 2 | Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act. | 22 |
| GS 2 | Important aspects of governance | 23 |
| GS 2 | e-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; | 24 |
| GS 2 | Citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. | 25 |
| GS 2 | Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity | 26 |
| GS 2 | Role of civil services in a democracy. | 27 |
| GS 2 | Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. | 28 |
| GS 2 | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. | 29 |
| GS 2 | 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. | 30 |
| GS 2 | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to health | 31 |
| GS 2 | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to education | 32 |
| GS 2 | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to human resources | 33 |
| GS 2 | Issues relating to poverty and hunger. | 34 |
| GS 2 | India and its neighbourhood- relations | 35 |
| GS 2 | Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests | 36 |
| GS 2 | Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. | 37 |
| GS 3 | Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology | 38 |
| GS 3 | Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology. | 39 |
| GS 3 | Issues relating to intellectual property rights. | 40 |
| GS 3 | Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. | 41 |
| GS 3 | Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. | 42 |
| GS 3 | Government Budgeting. | 43 |
| GS 3 | 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; | 44 |
| GS 3 | e-technology in the aid of farmers; Technology missions | 45 |
| GS 3 | Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution Systemobjectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; | 46 |
| GS 3 | Economics of animal-rearing; food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. | 47 |
| GS 3 | Land reforms in India | 48 |
| GS 3 | Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. | 49 |
| GS 3 | Investment models; Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc | 50 |
| GS 3 | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation | 51 |
| GS 3 | Environmental impact assessment | 52 |
| GS 3 | Energy conservation, environmental pollution and degradation | 53 |
| GS 3 | Linkages between development and spread of extremism. | 54 |
| GS 3 | Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. | 55 |
| GS 3 | Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; | 56 |
| GS 3 | Money-laundering and its prevention; linkages of organized crime with terrorism. | 57 |
| GS 3 | Security challenges and their management in border areas | 58 |
| GS 3 | Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. | 59 |
| GS 3 | Disaster and disaster management | 60 |
| GS 4 | 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. | 61 |
| GS 4 | Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance. | 62 |
| GS 4 | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. | 63 |
| GS 4 | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. | 64 |
| GS 4 | Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes. | 65 |
| GS 4 | Role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.Social influence and persuasion. | 66 |
| GS 4 | Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service | 67 |
| GS 4 | Work culture. Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government, public and private institutions. | 68 |
| GS 4 | Empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections. | 69 |
| GS 4 | Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration. Accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance. Philosophical basis of governance and probity. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service. | 70 |
| GS 4 | Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct; Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance Citizen’s Charters. Quality of service delivery. | 71 |
| GS 4 | Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. | 72 |
| GS 4 | Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information; Whistleblowing | 73 |
| GS 4 | Corporate governance- status and problems | 74 |
| GS 4 | Ethical issues in international relations and funding. | 75 |
| GS 4 | Case Studies on above issues | 76 |
UPSC Mains PYQ In-Depth Analysis
Select a General Studies paper to explore detailed analysis of previous year questions.