UPSC PRE SYLLABUS
The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Exam (IAS/IPS) for recruiting candidates on various administrative posts in the Government of India. The exam is conducted in three stages:
STAGE I : The Preliminary examination (Objective Based) qualifying in nature for being selected for the MAINS exam.
STAGE II : The Mains examination (Written)
STAGE III : Interview (Based on Interpersonal Communication Skills, Presence of Mind, Educational Background, etc.)
Here we are mainly focusing on the Syllabus for the Preliminary Examinations. The Preliminary Examinations are conducted in two parts comprising of two compulsory papers (Paper I General Studies and Paper II Aptitude Test) of 200 marks each. The type of question is Multiple Choice Objective Questions having 4 internal choices in which there will be only one correct option.
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No. of Papers
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2 Compulsory Papers
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| Type of Questions |
Objective (MCQ) Type |
|
Total Maximum Marks
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2 hrs. each (20 minutes per hour extra time for the blind candidates and the candidates with Locomotive Disability and Cerebral Palsy {Minimum 40% Impairment} )
|
|
Negative Marking
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33% of the marks assigned to a question
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|
Medium
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Bilingual (Hindi and English) |
Paper – I GENERAL STUDIES
Current events of National and International importance.
History of India (Ancient, Medieval and Modern) and the Indian National Movement.
Important Appointments.
Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social and Economical.
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System of India, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights, Issues and Schemes related to national and state importance.
Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General Science.
Technology and Space Research.
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-Diversity and Climate Change.
Paper – II APTITUDE TEST
Comprehension
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability:
- Counting the figures
- Direction Sense
- Syllogism
UPSC PRE SYLLABUS
- Assertion – Reason
- Dice
- Assumptions
- Coding – Decoding
- Sitting Arrangement
- Non – Verbal Reasoning
Decision Making and Problem Solving
General Mental Ability
Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills
Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)
- Numbers and their relations
- Orders of magnitude, etc.
Data Interpretation (Class X level)
- Pie Charts
- Line Graphs
- Tables
- Histogram
- Data sufficiency, etc.
Points to Remember-
1. There are total 80 questions in both the PAPER I and PAPER II carrying equal marks and the sum total of
the marks of each paper is 200.
2. There will be a negative marking of one-third of the marks assigned to the question for every wrong
answer.
3. No penalty will be assigned to a non-attempted question.
4. Time of 2 hours has been allotted for each paper in which you have to answer the questions as well as
have to fill the OMR Sheet.
5. The CSAT Aptitude Test or Paper II will be qualifying in nature, a candidate needs to score a minimum of
33% marks in the CSAT Paper to qualify the
UPSC Prelims Exam.
6. The Preliminary test is just a qualifying one. The marks obtained in PAPER I are just for the sake of
selecting the candidates for the MAINS Exam.
7. It is compulsory for the candidates to appear in both the papers of the PRELIMS Exam to be qualified for
the second phase. The candidate will be disqualified in case he or she appears in only one paper of the
PRELIMS EXAM.
TOPIC WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS FOR PAPER I GENERAL STUDIES
Ancient History of India
Stone Age and Copper Age
The Harappan Civilization
Advent of the Aryans and the Age of the Rig Veda
The Later Vedic Phase
Jainism and Buddhism
The Magadha Empire
Iranian and Macedonian Invasions
The Age of the Mauryas and the significance of the Mauryan Rule
The Age of the Satvahanas
The Southern Kingdoms
The Rise and Growth of the Gupta Empire
The Harsha Kingdom
Transformation of the Ancient Phase
Legacy in Science and Civilization
Medieval History of India
West and Central Asia between the 10 th and 12 th Centuries and the Turkish advance towards India
The Delhi Sultanate
Establishment of a Centralized Monarchy
The Mongol threat to India
Expansion of the Delhi Sultanate
Disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate
The Vijaynagar Empire
Arrival of the Portuguese
Rise of regional kingdoms in North India
Advance of Babur towards India
Struggle for empire in North India – Afghans, Rajputs and Mughals
The Mughal Empire
Modern History of India
The Decline of the Mughal Empire
Indian states and society in the 18 th Century
Beginning of the European Settlement
The British Conquest on India
Structure of the Government and the Economic Policies of the British Empire in India
Social and Cultural Awakening in the 19 th Century
The Revolt of 1857
Administrative changes after 1858
Economic Impact of the British Rule
Nationalist Movements
Struggle for Swaraj
World Geography
Universe – Theories, Formation and recent developments
Basic idea about the Earth – its motion, its inclination, seasons, eclipses, tides and their effects
Geomorphology – Exogenic and Endogenic movements, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
Theories – Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory, Sea Floor Spread Theory
Interior of the Earth- Lithosphere and its composition
Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits
Rock System and Classification of Rocks
Climatology – Atmosphere, Temperature, Distribution, Clouds, Precipitation, Pressure Belts, Winds,
Cyclones, Jet Streams, Ozone layer
Hydrosphere – Ocean Relief, Salinity, Ocean Currents, Ocean deposits and resources
Biosphere – Major Biomes, Flora and Fauna, Conservation of Biodiversity
Economic Geography
Map Reading
Places in News
Indian Geography
Basics of Indian Geography – Location on the map, boundaries, etc.
Physical features of India – Himalayas, Plateaus, Plains, Deserts and Islands
Indian River Systems – Characteristics, Comparison and Significance
Climate in India – Monsoon, El-Nino, La-Nino, Seasons, Cyclones
Mineral and Industries in India
Agriculture and problems faced in India
Soils in India
Agriculture and Allied Characteristics and Problems
Natural Vegetation and Fauna – Classification, Biodiversity, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, etc.
Rainfall Distribution in India
Economic Infrastructure – Transportation, Energy Resources
Human Geography – Demography, Census data
Indian Polity and Governance
The Preamble – Features, Amendment and Committees
The Constitution of India – Historical Background, Drafting Committee and the making of the
Constitution
Union and its Territory – State Reorganization, Federal Nature
Citizenship – PIO, NRI, OCI and Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Citizenship Amendment Act and Recent
Developments
Fundamental Rights – Important Amendments, Writs and recent developments related to the rights
Fundamental Duties – Significance and Criticism
Directive Principles of State Policy – Features, Classification and Popular SC Judgments and important
amendments
Union Government – President, Vice President, PM, Council of Ministers, Parliament, Attorney General
Judiciary – Supreme Court, High Court, Appointment and Removal Procedures
State Government – Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers, State Legislatures and Union
Territories
Emergency Provisions
Centre – State Relations and Interstate Relations
Panchayati Raj and Municipalities
Constitutional Bodies
Non – Constitutional Bodies
Tribunals
Special Provisions to SC, ST, Minorities, Backward Class, Anglo – Indians
Indian Economy
Economics Basics – Different Types of Economy, Sectors in Economy, GDP, GNP, Subsidies and National
Income
Economic Growth and Economic Development
Evolution of Indian Economy
Economic Planning and Planning in Indian Economy (FYPs, NDC, NITI Ayog)
Economic Reforms – Liberalization, Privatisation and Globalisation
Inflation and Deflation and their impacts
Agriculture and Food Management in India
Industries and Infrastructure in India
Service Sector
Indian Financial Market
Banking and insurance in India
Security Market in India
External Sectors in India
International Economic Organizations
Tax Structure in India
Public Finance in India
Human Development in India
Science and Technology
General Science – Basics of Physics and Biology (Class X Level)
Biotechnology – Definition, Types, GM Foods
Nanotechnology – Definitions, Types and Applications
Information Technology – Evolution and Generations
Space Technology – Orbits, Types of Satellites and Cryogenic Engines
Telecommunication Technology
Defense Technology
Nuclear Technology and Particle Physics
Electronics
Robotics
Energy
Important Indian Scientists and their Achievements
Government Initiatives in the field of S&T.
