Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination

  • Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English:
    • The aim of the paper is to test the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and to express ideas clearly and correctly in English and Indian Language concerned.
    • The pattern of questions for English:
      • Comprehension of given passages.
      • Precise writing.
      • Usage and Vocabulary.
      • Short Essay.
    • The pattern of questions for Indian Languages:
      • Comprehension of given passages.
      • Precise writing.
      • Usage and Vocabulary.
      • Short Essay.
      • Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
  • UPSC Mains Paper I (Essay)
    • Candidates will be required to write an essay on a specific topic. The choice of subjects will be given. Candidates will be expected to keep close to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion and to write concisely.
  • UPSC Mains Paper II (General Studies I)
    • Indian Heritage and Culture:
      • Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
    • 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.
      • History of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.— their forms and effect on society.
    • Society
      • Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
      • Role of women and women’s organizations, 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.
    • Geography of the World
      • Salient features of the world’s physical geography.
      • Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); 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 Mains Paper III (General Studies II)
    • Governance, Constitution, and 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 disputes 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.
      • 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.
    • Social Justice:
      • 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, and Human Resources.
      • Issues relating to poverty and hunger .
      • Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability, and institutional and other measures.
      • Role of civil services in a democracy.
    • International Relations:
      • India and its neighborhood- 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, and mandate.
  • UPSC Mains Paper IV (General Studies III)
    • 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.
      • 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 crop-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, and supply chain management.
      • Land reforms in India.
    • Technology:
      • Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
      • Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology.
      • Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
    • Environment:
      • Conservation, environmental pollution, and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
    • Disaster Management:
      • Disaster and disaster management.
    • Linkages
      • 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, the 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.
  • UPSC Mains Paper V (General Studies IV)
    • 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.
      • Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.
    • Attitude:
      • Content, Structure, Function; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political Attitudes; Social Influence and Persuasion.
      • 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:
      • Concepts, and their Utilities and Application in Administration and Governance.
      • Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and the World.
    • 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 and Ethical Governance;
      • Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Values in Governance;
      • Ethical Issues in International Relations and Funding;
      • Corporate Governance.
  • UPSC Mains Optional Subjects
    • List of Optional Subjects:
      • Agriculture
      • Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
      • Anthropology
      • Botany
      • Chemistry
      • Civil Engineering
      • Commerce & Accountancy
      • Economics
      • Electrical Engineering
      • Geography
      • Geology
      • History
      • Law
      • Management
      • Mathematics
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Medical Science
      • Philosophy
      • Physics
      • Political Science & International Relations
      • Psychology
      • Public Administration
      • Sociology
      • Zoology
      • Literature (Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and English)