DetailedUPSCIASMainsExaminationSyllabus2017

IASMainsExaminationSyllabus
ThecivilservicesexaminationisanationwidecompetitiveexaminationinIndiaconductedbyUPSCforthe
recruitmenttovariousgovernmentposts.Theexaminationisconductedintwophasesthepreliminary
examinationconsistingoftwoobjectivetypepapersandthemainexamination,consistingofninepapersfollowed
byapersonalitytest.
UnionPublicServiceCommissionhasdrasticallychangedthesyllabusofMainsExaminationfrom2013.
InCivilServicesMainsExamination2013insteadoftwooptionalpapers,nowstudentwilloptonlyoneoptional
paper.WeightageofGeneralStudyhasbeenincreased.HereisthenewpatternofCivilServicesmains
examination:

Paper

Marks

Paper1:

250

Essay

Marks

Paper2:
General
Studies1

Paper3:
General
Studies2

Paper4:
General
Studies3

Paper5:
General
Studies4

Paper6:
Optional
Subject

Paper7:
Optional
Subject

250
Mark

250
Marks

Subject

Essay

IndianHeritageandCulture,HistoryandGeographyoftheWorldandSociety

Governance,Constitution,Polity,SocialJusticeandInternationalrelations

250

Technology,EconomicDevelopment,Biodiversity,Environment,Securityand

Marks

DisasterManagement

250
Marks

250
Marks

250
Marks

Paper8:

300

Qualifying1

Marks

Paper9:

300

Qualifying2

Marks

Ethics,IntegrityandAptitude

OptionalSubject:Paper1

OptionalSubject:Paper2

English

Hindioranylanguageinthe8thscheduleoftheconstitution

SubTotal(Writtentest)2350Marks
MarksofEnglishandLanguagewillnotbecountedsototalmarksforWrittenexamwillbe2350MINUS600
=1750Marks

Thetotalmarksofthewrittenexaminationwillbe1750Marks.

Interview/PersonalityTest275marks

GrandTotal2025Marks

AcandidateisallowedtouseanyonelanguagefromtheEighthScheduleoftheConstitutionor
Englishasthemediumofwritingtheexamination.

CivilServicesMainsExamSyllabus
Thewrittenexaminationwillconsistofthefollowingpapers:
Paper1:
Essay250MarksTobewritteninthemediumorlanguageofthecandidate'schoiceCandidateswillbe
requiredtowriteanessayonaspecifictopic.Thechoiceofsubjectswillbegiven.Theywillbeexpectedtokeep
closelytothesubjectoftheessaytoarrangetheirideasinorderlyfashion,andtowriteconcisely.Creditwillbe
givenforeffectiveandexactexpression.
Paper2:
GeneralStudies1:250Marks(IndianHeritageandCulture,HistoryandGeographyoftheWorldand
Society)
IndianculturewillcoverthesalientaspectsofArtForms,LiteratureandArchitecturefromancienttomoderntimes.
ModernIndianhistoryfromaboutthemiddleoftheeighteenthcenturyuntilthepresentsignificantevents,
personalities,issues
TheFreedomStruggleitsvariousstagesandimportantcontributors/contributionsfromdifferentpartsofthe
country.
Postindependenceconsolidationandreorganizationwithinthecountry.
Historyoftheworldwillincludeeventsfrom18thcenturysuchasindustrialrevolution,worldwars,redrawalof
nationalboundaries,colonization,decolonization,politicalphilosophieslikecommunism,capitalism,socialism
etc.theirformsandeffectonthesociety.
SalientfeaturesofIndianSociety,DiversityofIndia.
Roleofwomenandwomen'sorganization,populationandassociatedissues,povertyanddevelopmentalissues,
urbanization,theirproblemsandtheirremedies.

EffectsofglobalizationonIndiansocietySocialempowerment,communalism,regionalism&secularism.
Salientfeaturesofworld'sphysicalgeography.
Distributionofkeynaturalresourcesacrosstheworld(includingSouthAsiaandtheIndiansubcontinent)factors
responsibleforthelocationofprimary,secondary,andtertiarysectorindustriesinvariouspartsoftheworld
(includingIndia)
ImportantGeophysicalphenomenasuchasearthquakes,Tsunami,Volcanicactivity,cycloneetc.,geographical
featuresandtheirlocationchangesincriticalgeographicalfeatures(includingwaterbodiesandicecaps)andin
floraandfaunaandtheeffectsofsuchchanges.
Paper3:
GeneralStudies2:250Marks(Governance,Constitution,Polity,SocialJusticeandInternational
relations)
IndianConstitutionhistoricalunderpinnings,evolution,features,amendments,significantprovisionsandbasic
structure.
FunctionsandresponsibilitiesoftheUnionandtheStates,issuesandchallengespertainingtothefederal
structure,devolutionofpowersandfinancesuptolocallevelsandchallengestherein.
Separationofpowersbetweenvariousorgansdisputeredressalmechanismsandinstitutions.
ComparisonoftheIndianconstitutionalschemewiththatofothercountriesParliamentandStateLegislatures
structure,functioning,conductofbusiness,powers&privilegesandissuesarisingoutofthese.
Structure,organizationandfunctioningoftheExecutiveandtheJudiciaryMinistriesandDepartmentsof
theGovernmentpressuregroupsandformal/informalassociationsandtheirroleinthePolity.
SalientfeaturesoftheRepresentationofPeople'sAct.
AppointmenttovariousConstitutionalposts,powers,functionsandresponsibilitiesofvarious
ConstitutionalBodies.
Statutory,regulatoryandvariousquasijudicialbodiesGovernmentpoliciesandinterventionsfordevelopmentin
varioussectorsandissuesarisingoutoftheirdesignandimplementation.
DevelopmentprocessesandthedevelopmentindustrytheroleofNGOs,SHGs,variousgroupsandassociations,
donors,charities,institutionalandotherstakeholders
WelfareschemesforvulnerablesectionsofthepopulationbytheCentreandStatesandtheperformanceofthese
schemesmechanisms,laws,institutionsandBodiesconstitutedfortheprotectionandbettermentofthese
vulnerablesections.
IssuesrelatingtodevelopmentandmanagementofSocialSector/ServicesrelatingtoHealth,Education,Human
Resources.
Issuesrelatingtopovertyandhunger.
Importantaspectsofgovernance,transparencyandaccountability,egovernanceapplications,models,
successes,limitations,andpotentialcitizenscharters,transparency&accountabilityandinstitutionalandother
measures.

Roleofcivilservicesinademocracy.
Indiaanditsneighborhoodrelations.
Bilateral,regionalandglobalgroupingsandagreementsinvolvingIndiaand/oraffectingIndia'sinterestsEffectof
policiesandpoliticsofdevelopedanddevelopingcountriesonIndia'sinterests,Indiandiaspora.
ImportantInternationalinstitutions,agenciesandfora,theirstructure,mandate.
PAPER4:
GeneralStudies3:250Marks(Technology,EconomicDevelopment,Biodiversity,Environment,Security
andDisasterManagement)
Development,Biodiversity,Environment,SecurityandDisasterManagement.
IndianEconomyandissuesrelatingtoplanning,mobilizationofresources,growth,developmentandemployment.
Inclusivegrowthandissuesarisingfromit.
GovernmentBudgeting.
Majorcropscroppingpatternsinvariouspartsofthecountry,differenttypesofirrigationandirrigationsystems
storage,transportandmarketingofagriculturalproduceandissuesandrelatedconstraintsetechnologyinthe
aidoffarmersIssuesrelatedtodirectandindirectfarmsubsidiesandminimumsupportpricesPublicDistribution
Systemobjectives,functioning,limitations,revampingissuesofbufferstocksandfoodsecurityTechnology
missions
economicsofanimalrearing.
FoodprocessingandrelatedindustriesinIndiascopeandsignificance,location,upstreamanddownstream
requirements,supplychainmanagement.
LandreformsinIndia.
Effectsofliberalizationontheeconomy,changesinindustrialpolicyandtheireffectsonindustrialgrowth.
Infrastructure:Energy,Ports,Roads,Airports,Railwaysetc.
Investmentmodels.
ScienceandTechnologydevelopmentsandtheirapplicationsandeffectsineverydaylifeAchievementsof
Indiansinscience&technology
indigenizationoftechnologyanddevelopingnewtechnology.
AwarenessinthefieldsofIT,Space,Computers,robotics,nanotechnology,biotechnologyandissuesrelatingto
intellectualpropertyrights.
Conservation,environmentalpollutionanddegradation,environmentalimpactassessmentDisasteranddisaster
management.
Linkagesbetweendevelopmentandspreadofextremism.
Roleofexternalstateandnonstateactorsincreatingchallengestointernalsecurity.

Challengestointernalsecuritythroughcommunicationnetworks,roleofmediaandsocialnetworkingsitesin
internalsecuritychallenges,basicsofcybersecuritymoneylaunderinganditsprevention
SecuritychallengesandtheirmanagementinborderareaslinkagesoforganizedcrimewithterrorismVarious
Securityforcesandagenciesandtheirmandate
Paper5:
GeneralStudies4:250Marks(Ethics,IntegrityandAptitude)
Thispaperwillincludequestionstotestthecandidates'attitudeandapproachtoissuesrelatingtointegrity,probity
inpubliclifeandhisproblemsolvingapproachtovariousissuesandconflictsfacedbyhimindealingwithsociety.
Questionsmayutilisethecasestudyapproachtodeterminetheseaspects.Thefollowingbroadareaswillbe
covered.
EthicsandHumanInterface:Essence,determinantsandconsequencesofEthicsinhumanactionsdimensionsof
ethicsethicsinprivateandpublicrelationships.
HumanValueslessonsfromthelivesandteachingsofgreatleaders,reformersandadministratorsroleoffamily,
societyandeducationalinstitutionsininculcatingvalues.
Attitude:content,structure,functionitsinfluenceandrelationwiththoughtandbehaviourmoralandpolitical
attitudessocialinfluenceandpersuasion.
AptitudeandfoundationalvaluesforCivilService,integrity,impartialityandnonpartisanship,objectivity,
dedicationtopublicservice,empathy,toleranceandcompassiontowardstheweakersections.
Emotionalintelligenceconcepts,andtheirutilitiesandapplicationinadministrationandgovernance.
ContributionsofmoralthinkersandphilosophersfromIndiaandworld.
Public/CivilservicevaluesandEthicsinPublicadministration:Statusandproblemsethicalconcernsand
dilemmasingovernmentandprivateinstitutionslaws,rules,regulationsandconscienceassourcesofethical
guidanceaccountabilityandethicalgovernancestrengtheningofethicalandmoralvaluesingovernance
ethicalissuesininternationalrelationsandfundingcorporategovernance.
ProbityinGovernance:ConceptofpublicservicePhilosophicalbasisofgovernanceandprobity
Informationsharingandtransparencyingovernment,RighttoInformation,CodesofEthics,CodesofConduct,
Citizen'sCharters,Workculture,Qualityofservicedelivery,Utilizationofpublicfunds,challengesofcorruption.
CaseStudiesonaboveissues.
Paper6:
OptionalSubject:Paper1250Marks
Paper7:
OptionalSubject:Paper2250Marks

Paper8:

English:300marksQualifyingnatureMarksnotcountedPassingmandatory
Theaimofthepaperistotestthecandidates'abilitytoreadandunderstandseriousdiscursiveprose,andto
expresshisideasclearlyandcorrectly,inEnglishandIndianLanguageconcerned.
Thepatternofquestionswouldbebroadlyasfollows:
(i)Comprehensionofgivenpassages
(ii)PrecisWriting
(iii)UsageandVocabulary
(iv)ShortEssay.
Paper9:
Hindioranylanguageinthe8thscheduleoftheconstitution:300MarksQualifyingnatureMarksnot
countedPassingmandatory
(i)Comprehensionofgivenpassages.
(ii)PrecisWriting
(iii)UsageandVocabulary.
(iv)ShortEssay
(v)TranslationfromEnglishtotheIndianlanguageandviceversa.
Note1:ThePapersonIndianLanguagesandEnglishwillbeofMatriculationorequivalentstandardandwillbeof
qualifyingnatureonly.Themarksobtainedinthesepaperswillnotbecountedforranking.
Note2:ThecandidateswillhavetoanswertheEnglishandIndianLanguagespapersinEnglishandthe
respectiveIndianlanguage(exceptwheretranslationisinvolved).