UPSC IAS 2021 Syllabus- Check Detailed Syllabus for Civil Services Prelims and Mains Exam

UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2021: UPSC is one of the most coveted exam in India for which lakhs of students apply every year. It is important for candidates to check the detailed syllabus of UPSC and other important details to prepare better for the exam. We will be providing all the necessary details in this space.

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Cracking such prestigious exam demands a thorough strategy and proper glimpse of exam pattern and syllabus. We have come up with UPSC Civil Services Exam 2021 Syllabus in detail here.

UPSC is a three stage recruitment: Prelims, Main and Interview. Preliminary exam is qualifying in nature while the score of Main and Interview is added for the merit list. 

Also Check: UPSC EPFO Enforcement Officer Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2021

UPSC Syllabus: Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021

UPSC releases detail syllabus for Civil Services Examination in its official notification every year. Here is the syllabus for both Prelims and Main Exam. 

Syllabus For Prelims Exam

The prelims exam is qualifying in nature and has 2 papers in total: GS and CSAT. In CSAT, an aspirant has to score just 33% marks while in GS, an aspirant has to score atleast upto the cut-off marks. The nature of both Paper 1 and 2 is objective and for every wrong attempts, marks are deducted.

Paper I: GS (General Studies)

Total Marks: 200  

Duration: 2 Hours

Nature: Objective (MCQ)

• 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.

Paper II: CSAT (Aptitude Test)

Total Marks: 200

Duration : Two hours

Nature: 2 Hours

• 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)

Note 3: It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for evaluation. It is also necessary to qualifying both the papers in order to get into the Main Phase of the Exam.

Syllabus for Main Exam

Main exam has 9 subjective papers in total, out of which 2 are qualifying in nature and the other forms the part of merit list. Here is the detail syllabus fir the same. 

Qualifying Paper on Indian Language and English

Paper A: English 

Marks: 300

The pattern of questions would be broad as follows :

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Précis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.

Paper B: Indian Languages included in the 8th Schedule of the constitution

Marks: 300

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Précis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.
• Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

Paper I: Essay

Marks: 250

This paper requires a comprehensive understanding of multiple topics. The effective and exact expression will be given credit. 

Paper II (General Studies-I): Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

Marks: 250

1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues.
3. The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. The history of the world will include events from the 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redraw of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and their remedies.
8. Effects of globalization on Indian society.
9. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
10. Salient features of world’s physical geography.
11. 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).
12. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone 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

PAPER-III (General Studies- II): Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

Marks: 250

1. Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
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.
3. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
4. 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.
5. 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 polity
6. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
7. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
8. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
9. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
10. Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
11. 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.
12. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
13. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
14. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
15. Role of civil services in a democracy.
16. India and its neighborhood- relations.
17. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
18. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
19. Indian diaspora.
20. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

PAPER-IV (General Studies-III): Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Marks: 250

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
3. Government Budgeting.
4. 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.
5. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issue of buffer stock and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
6. Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
7. Land reforms in India.
8. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
10. Investment models.
11. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
12. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
13. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
14. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
15. Disaster and disaster management.
16. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
17. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
18. 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.
19. Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
20. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

PAPER-V (General Studies- IV): Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Marks: 250

Candidates attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and
conflicts faced by him in dealing with society is tested in this.

The following broad areas will be covered :

1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of
2. Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships.
3. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
4. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
5. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker section
6. Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
7. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
   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 and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international
   relations and funding; corporate governance.
8. Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; 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.
9. Case Studies on above issues.

PAPER-VI & PAPER VII (Optional Subject)

Paper VI (Optional 1) Marks: 250 

Paper VII (Optional 2) Marks: 250

Candidate may choose any optional subject from amongst the List of Optional Subjects:

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Botany
5. Chemistry
6. Civil Engineering
7. Commerce and Accountancy
8. Economics
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geography
11. Geology
12. History
13. Law
14. Management
15. Mathematics
16. Mechanical Engineering
17. Medical Science
18. Philosophy
19. Physics
20. Political Science and International Relations
21. Psychology
22. Public Administration
23. Sociology
24. Statistics
25. Zoology
26. Literature of any one of the following languages:  Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.

The optional paper is of 3 hours each and paper VI and VII both has to be from same subjects. It’s syllabus is like the syllabus of graduation. This needs knowledge of the examination properly.

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