The UPSC syllabus for the Civil Services Examination is set out in the scheme of examination that comes with each year's notification on upsc.gov.in. It covers two written stages: the Preliminary exam, with two objective papers, and the Main exam, with nine descriptive papers. The scheme has stayed stable for several years, but always read the notification of your exam year, since UPSC can change it.
The UPSC syllabus PDF is free. You do not need to buy it or sign up anywhere; the full topic list is inside the notification and the scheme appendix.
Prelims syllabus
| Paper | Marks | Time | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 200 | 2 hours | Counts for the Prelims cut-off |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying; 33 percent needed |
GS Paper I topics
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and world geography: physical, social and economic
- 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 and climate change
- General science
CSAT (Paper II) topics
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy and data interpretation at about Class 10 level
Both Prelims papers have negative marking for wrong answers, as set out in the notification.
Mains syllabus
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A | One Indian language from the Eighth Schedule (qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper B | English (qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | GS I: Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society | 250 |
| Paper III | GS II: governance, Constitution, polity, social justice, international relations | 250 |
| Paper IV | GS III: technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management | 250 |
| Paper V | GS IV: ethics, integrity and aptitude | 250 |
| Papers VI and VII | Optional subject, Paper 1 and Paper 2 | 250 each |
The seven merit papers total 1750 marks. The qualifying language papers are not added to the total, but you must pass them for your other papers to be counted. Some candidates are exempt from the Indian language paper under rules in the notification.
What each GS paper expects
- GS I: art and culture, modern Indian history from the mid-eighteenth century, the freedom struggle, post-independence consolidation, world history, Indian society, and physical and human geography.
- GS II: the Constitution and its working, Parliament and state legislatures, the executive and judiciary, statutory bodies, welfare schemes, health and education, and India's relations with other countries.
- GS III: the Indian economy, agriculture, infrastructure, science and technology, environment, disaster management and internal security.
- GS IV: ethics in public life, attitude, emotional intelligence, the contribution of thinkers, public service values and case studies.
Choosing an optional
The notification lists the optional subjects, which include subjects such as Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, the sciences and engineering branches, plus the literature of many Indian languages and English. Pick one you can study deeply for two papers. Look at its full syllabus in the notification before deciding, not only at what others choose.
Personality Test
The interview carries 275 marks and has no fixed syllabus. The board assesses your suitability for a career in public service. Your Detailed Application Form, including your education, hobbies and home state, often shapes the questions.
How to download the official UPSC syllabus PDF
- Go to upsc.gov.in and open the Examinations section, then Active Examinations or Notifications.
- Download the Civil Services Examination notification for the current year.
- Find the appendix on the scheme and syllabus of the examination.
- Save the full PDF. The mains syllabus PDF for each optional is in the same appendix.
Where Prelims and Mains overlap
| Area | Prelims | Mains |
|---|---|---|
| History and culture | Facts and chronology in GS Paper I | Analytical answers in GS I |
| Polity and governance | Constitution and institutions | Working of institutions and policy issues in GS II |
| Economy and environment | Concepts and schemes | Policy analysis in GS III |
| Ethics | Not tested | A full paper, GS IV |
| Aptitude and reading | CSAT | Essay and case studies |
Most of the Prelims GS syllabus feeds into Mains, so prepare both together from the start and switch to Prelims-only practice in the last few months before the test.
Study tips tied to the syllabus
- Keep the printed syllabus on your desk and map every book or note to a line in it.
- Read the last few years of question papers, available on upsc.gov.in, to see how each topic is asked.
- Do not ignore CSAT. Many candidates fail Prelims because they fall short of the 33 percent in Paper II.
- Connect static topics with current affairs, as Prelims and Mains both reward that link.
- Practise writing answers to a word limit from early on; Mains rewards clear structure within the space given.
- Read the syllabus of your optional line by line and finish it once fully before Prelims.
Related pages
Read about the stages, eligibility and attempts on the UPSC CSE exam hub, and keep the UPSC e-admit card steps handy. If you are preparing alongside staff selection exams, compare with the SSC CGL syllabus. Postgraduates with an academic plan can also look at the UGC NET syllabus, and our central government jobs page lists other routes into service. All syllabus guides are in the syllabus section.
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