If you have attended any toppers seminar the first thing that they would say is to go through the syllabus first as much as you can. In fact, some of them will tell you to keep a hard copy of the syllabus and keep it on your study Table. UPSC Syllabus gives an overview of the topics that one must know in different stages of the Examination. It helps us in keeping ourselves focused on the specific requirement of the subject. UPSC does not expect the Aspirant to have a Ph.D. in the subject. So, it is inevitable to know the syllabus first.
IMPORTANCE OF UPSC CSE SYLLABUS:
If someone goes through the syllabus multiple times in the initial days of Preparation then it will help him in knowing the entire syllabus and eventually can set the boundary with respect to the subject matter. Also, one can escape what is not inevitable from the exam point of view. For example, current affairs are very important for UPSC CSE as it has great significance in all three stages of the Exam. But in Newspapers, there is so much news that is not relevant for UPSC CSE. One can manage to escape those readings if one knows what to study from Current Affairs. This can be applied to other subjects as well.
UPSC CSE conducts an examination every year to recruit officers for All India Services and other allied Services. This Exam is being done in three stages. Let us discuss each stage separately.
UPSC CSE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION:
Prelim is the first stage of UPSC CSE. The nature of Questions asked in Prelims is objective. The main objective of Prelims is to eliminate nonserious candidates from writing UPSC mains i.e., the second stage.
Under UPSC CSE Prelim, there are two Papers. The two Papers are as:
- General Studies:
Under this Paper UPSC evaluate the general awareness of candidates with respect to diverse subjects such as – Indian Polity, International Relations, Current Affairs, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science &Technology, and Environment & Ecology.
This General Studies paper is the First Paper under UPSC CSE Prelims Examination. Marks secured in this Paper are used for merit Purposes.
- CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
This is the Second Paper under UPSC CSE Prelims. It is qualifying in nature. Marks secured in this Paper are not used for Merit purposes.
Please note both the papers of UPSC CSE Prelims are held on a single Day. The marks of the Prelims Paper are not taken into consideration for preparing the final list. The main objective of Prelims is to eliminate nonserious candidates and screen serious candidates for subsequent stages of the Examination.
| SUBJECTS | NO. OF QUESTIONS |
MARKS ALLOTTED FOR EACH QUESTION |
TOTAL MARKS | NEGATIVE MARKING | DURATION OF EXAM |
| GENERAL STUDIES | 100 | 2 | 200 | 1/3 rd. | 2 HRS |
| CSAT | 80 | 2.5 | 200 | 1/3 rd. | 2 HRS |
The detailed Syllabus of UPSC CSE Prelims for both Papers is as:
UPSC CSE Syllabus for GS Paper (UPSC CSE Prelims Paper – I):
- Current Events of National & International Importance
- History of India & Indian National Movement
- India & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the world.
- Indian Polity & 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, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that does not require subject specialization.
- General Science
Kindly refer below-mentioned link for the Microanalysis of the above syllabus of UPSC CSE Prelims Paper – I (General Studies).
UPSC CSE PRELIMS PAPER –II (CSAT)
- 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)
UPSC CSE Aspirants are advised to refer to the above-mentioned link for the Microanalysis of the Syllabus.
UPSC CSE MAINS SYLLABUS & EXAM PATTERN:
- UPSC CSE Mains is the second stage and only Prelims Qualified Candidates are eligible to write Mains.
- The main Exam tests Candidates’ in-depth knowledge, thought process, analytical skills, decision-making ability, integrity, and articulation.
- The UPSC Mains has 9 Papers out of which 2 Papers are Qualifying and carry 300 marks each.
The Two Qualifying Papers are:
- Any Indian Language Paper
- English Language paper
- In order to qualify for these two language Papers, the Candidate is expected to secure at least 25 % marks in each Paper.
- In case any Candidate is unable to secure 25 % marks in either of these two Papers, their respective other GS papers, Essay Paper & optional Papers will not be evaluated.
- There have been some candidates who did not qualify for these language papers. Hence it should not be taken lightly.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
| Paper-I | Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice) | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper I | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper II | 250 |
Kindly refer below-mentioned link for the previous year’s UPSC CSE Mains Question Discussion. Going through the Previous Year Paper gives us an idea about the nature of the Question being asked in the Examination.
Also please be informed that UPSC defines its syllabus briefly. So, it is important to decipher the implicit meaning of the syllabus. It can be better understood by going through the Microanalysis of the Syllabus and the previous year’s Question Paper.
Refer below-mentioned link for a Micro Analysis of UPSC CSE Syllabus
.STAGE III: UPSC CSE INTERVIEW (275 MARKS)
The third and final stage is Personality Assessment Test or Interview. Those students who qualify for Mains are required to appear in the Interview. It tests the overall Personality of Candidates.
Generally, the Interview duration varies from one candidate to another but on average, it is of 20 -25 minutes. Question Pertaining to Academics, optional subjects, Current Affairs, and one’s hobby is asked by the Board which comprises of 5 Members. The Board asks Questions from one DAF only. So, it would be wise to fill one’s DAF honestly and correctly.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
- UPSC CSE HAS THREE STAGES – PRELIMINARY, MAINS & INTERVIEW.
- PRELIMINARY IS A QUALIFYING AND MARKS SECURED IN PRELIMS ARE NOT USED IN FINAL MERIT.
- CSAT UNDER PRELIMS IS A QUALIFYING PAPER AND ONE MUST SECURE 33% MARKS TO QUALIFY IT.
- GENERAL STUDIES PAPER UNDER PRELIMS IS USED FOR SCREENING CANDIDATES FOR UPSC CSE MAINS.
- IN UPSC MAINS, TWO LANGUAGE PAPERS ARE QUALIFYING IN NATURE AND ONE MUST SECURE 25 % MARKS ELSE THEIR OTHER PAPERS OF GS, OPTIONAL & ESSAY WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.
- INTERVIEW IS THE THIRD AND FINAL STAGE OF UPSC CSE & CARRIES 275 MARKS. MARKS SECURED IN THE INTERVIEW ARE USED IN FINAL MERIT.
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