UPSC CSE 2024 Complete Syllabus

Civil Services Exam (IAS Exam), the most prestigious exam of all, is conducted by UPSC every year to recruit candidates to various services and posts in the Government of India. UPSC CSE 2024 Syllabus is vast you need proper timing to finish the syllabus. It is a two-stage exam that includes:

1. Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) for selection of candidates for Main Examination.

2. Civil Services Main Examination (Written & Interview) for selection of candidates for various services and posts mentioned in the official notification.

UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam Pattern & Syllabus

• • 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, Demography, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change – which do not require subject expertise.
  • General Science.

• Understanding.
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills.
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.
• General mental ability.
• Basic Numeracy (numbers and their relationships, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X Level), Data Interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data Sufficiency, etc. – Class X Level)

UPSC IAS Main Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Syllabus of UPSC Main Examination Papers

I. Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English

The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:

English Language:

(i) Comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Precis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

Indian Languages:

(i) Comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Precis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

II. Paper-I: Essay

Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics.

They will be expected to approach the topic of the essay in order to organize their thoughts systematically and to write concisely.

Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

III. Paper-II: General Studies-I

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

(i) Indian culture will cover major aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times.

(ii) Modern Indian History from the middle of the eighteenth century to the present – important events, personalities, issues.

(iii) Freedom Struggle – Its various phases and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

(iv) Consolidation and reorganization within the country after independence.

(v) The history of the world will include events from the 18th century such as Colonialism, Industrial Revolution, Redrawing of national boundaries, World Wars,   Political Philosophies such as Capitalism, Communism,  Socialism, etc – their forms and impact on society.

(vi) Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

(vii) Role of women and women’s organisation,  poverty and developmental issues, urbanisation, population and related issues, their problems, and their remedies.

(viii) Effects of globalization on Indian society.

(ix) Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

(x) Salient features of the world’s physical geography.

(xi) Distribution of major natural resources around the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); Factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary and tertiary sector industries in different parts of the world (including India).

(xii) Important geophysical phenomena, such as tsunamis, earthquakes,  cyclones, volcanic activity, etc., geographical features and their location – changes in important geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

IV. Paper-III: General Studies-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

(i) Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, basic structure, features, amendments, and significant provisions.

(ii) Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges relating to the federal structure, Devolution of powers and finances up to the local level, and challenges therein.

(iii) The separation of powers between the various organs occurs between dispute resolution mechanisms and institutions.

(iv) Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Plan with other countries.

(v) Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, powers & privileges, the conduct of business,  and issues arising out of these.

(vi) The structure, organization, and functioning of the executive and judiciary – Ministries and Departments of the Government; Pressure groups and their role in formal/informal association and Polity.

(vii) Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.

(viii) Appointment of various constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various constitutional bodies.

(ix) Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial bodies.

(x) Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

(xi) Development Processes and Development Industry – Role of NGOs, Self Help Groups, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

(xii) Welfare schemes and performance of these schemes by the Center and the States for the weaker sections of the population; Mechanisms, laws, institutions, and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

(xiii) Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Health, Human Resources.

(xiv) Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

(xv) Important aspects of governance, citizens charters, e-governance- applications, models, transparency & accountability, successes, limitations, and potential,  institutional and other measures.

(xvi) Role of civil services in a democracy.

(xvii) India and its neighborhood- relations.

(xviii) Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

(xix) Impact of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

(xx) Important international institutions, agencies, and forums – their structure, mandate.

V. Paper-IV: General Studies-III

 Biodiversity, Economic Development, Environment, Technology, Security and Disaster Management

(i) Indian economy and issues related to planning, resource mobilization, growth, development and employment.

(ii) Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

(iii) Government Budgeting.

(iv) Major crop-cropping patterns in different parts of the country,  Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transportation and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; E-technology to help farmers.

(v) Issues relating to direct and indirect agricultural subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System-Objectives, Functionality, Limitations, Reforms; issues of buffer stock and food security; technology mission; Economics of animal husbandry.

(vi) Food Processing and Related Industries in India- Scope’ and Importance, Location, Upstream and Downstream Requirements, Supply Chain Management.

(vii) Land reforms in India.

(viii) Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy, and their effects on industrial development.

(ix) Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

(x) Investment models.

(xi) Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

(xii) Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

(xiii) Awareness in the fields of Space, IT, Robotics, Computers,  Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

(xiv) Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

(xv) Disaster and disaster management.

(xvi) Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

(xvii) Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

(xviii) 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.

(xix) Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

(xx) Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

VI. Paper-V: General Studies-IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

This paper will consist of questions to test the attitude and approach of the candidates to the issues related to integrity, honesty in public life, and various issues faced by them in dealing with society and their problem-solving approach to the conflicts.

Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.

The following broad areas will be covered:

(i) Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, Dimensions of Ethics; Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in Human Actions;  Ethics – in private and public relations.
Human Values – Lessons from the life and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

(ii) Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; social influence and persuasion: moral and political attitudes.

(iii) Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, objectivity,  impartiality and non-partisanship, empathy, dedication to public service, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.

(iv) Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.

(v) Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

(vi) 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 moral guidance; accountability and ethical governance; Strengthening of moral and ethical values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

(vii) Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Utilization of public funds, Codes of Conduct, Codes of Ethics,  Work culture, Citizen’s Charters,  Quality of service delivery,  challenges of corruption.

(viii) Case Studies on the above issues.

VII. Paper – VI & VII

Optional Subject Papers I & II.

A candidate may opt for any one Optional Subject from the following:

(i) Agriculture

(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science

(iii) Anthropology

(iv) Botany

(v) Chemistry

(vi) Civil Engineering

(vii) Commerce and Accountancy

(viii) Economics

(ix) Electrical Engineering

(x) Geography

(xi) Geology

(xii) History

(xiii) Law

(xiv) Management

(xv) Mathematics

(xvi) Mechanical Engineering

(xvii) Medical Science

(xviii) Philosophy

(xix) Physics

(xx) Political Science and International Relations

(xxi) Psychology

(xxii) Public Administration

(xxiii) Sociology

(xxiv) Statistics

(xxv) Zoology

(xxvi) 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.

Each Optional Subject has 2 compulsory papers.