SYLLABUS

UPSC – CSE
 ANCIENT AND MEDEIVAL HISTORY

ANCIENT HISTORY
• Stone Age (Prehistoric Period) – Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic
• Chalcolithic Culture
• Harappan Civilization
• Vedic Age
• Pre-Mauryan Period - Mahajanapadas
- Religious Reforms
• Mauryan Empire
• Post Mauryan Period
• Gupta Period
• Post Gupta Period

MEDIEVAL HISTORY
• Early Medieval India (both North and South India)
• Delhi Sultanate
• Provincial Dynasties - Vijay Nagar
Bahmani
Bengal
Malwa
• Mughal Empire
• Marathas
• Religious Movements - Bhakti and Sufi Movement

Note – Brief history; salient features; social, economical, religious and cultural
conditions of all of the above.
 MODERN INDIA

1. BRITISH CONQUEST OF INDIA 4. NATIONALISM IN INDIA

• Decline of Mughal Empire • Rise of nationalism in India

• Rise of regional politics • Social basis of Indian Nationalism
• India in Eighteenth Century • Rise and growth of Indian National Congress
• Advent of Europeans • Policies and programmes of early
• Factors that led to conquest of India by nationalists
British • Role of literature and news-media in
• Conquest of regional powers freedom struggle
• Resistance of Indian powers and causes of • Intensification of nationalist movement
failure • Role of Business Groups
• Evolution of British paramountcy over
princely state 5. INDIA FREEDOM STRUGGLE UNDER GANDHI
2. BRITISH ADMINISTRATION
• Gandhi in South Africa
• British colonialism in India
• Non-cooperation Movement
• British policies in India
• Civil Disobedience Movement
• British Economic Policies and their impact
• Round Table Conference
• Rise of capitalist class
• Poona Act
• Activities of Christian Missionaries
• 1939 Tripuri Session
• Governor-General and administration till
• August Offer
1857
• Individual Satyagraha 1940-1941
• Colonial administration till 1857
• Quit India Movement
• Foreign Policy of British India
• British Official response to national
3. EARLY RESISTANCE TO BRITISH RULE
movement
• Tribal revolts
• Various tribal movements in India
• Civil rebellions and peasant revolts
• Nature and significance of civil rebellions
• Various peasant movements in India
• The revolt of 1857 and personalities
associated
• Dalit movements
 7. STRUGGLE BY THE MASSES
6. SOCIAL REFORMS IN BRITISH INDIA

• Regeneration, reform and renaissance in • Trade union movement in India

India • Peasant movements in modern India
• Social reformers in India • The states people’s movements
• Reforms in western India • Socialists and left bloc in congress
• Reforms in south India • Indian National Army
• Role of reformers • Naval mutiny of 1946
• Nature and limitation of 19th century • Women movements
renaissance
• Reasons of rise
• Caste movement in south India
• Caste movements in northern and eastern
India

MISCELLANEOUS – Reforms/ Acts/ Committee, Congress sessions, Governors & Viceroys – Period, their
policies and major work during the tenure.
 ART AND CULTURE
1. CULTURE, CIVILIZATION AND HERITAGE

• Meaning of Culture, Civilization and Heritage

• Difference between culture, civilization and heritage
• Features of Indian Culture
• Influence of Globalization on Indian Culture
• Different form of Art-Visual Arts
• Indian world heritage sites, cultural heritage sites, natural heritage sites, important
institutions.

2. ARCHITECT

• Ancient Architect- the Sungas, Kushanas, Satavahanas and Guptas

• Secular Architect- from Indus valley civilization to mauryan architect
• Religious Architect- budhha, jain and hindu(temple-nagar,dravid and vesara) architect
• Medieval Architect- indo-islamic architect and independent Islamic architect
• Regional Architect- like vijaynagar, bahamani and others
• Modern Architect- colonial and post independence architect

3. SCULPTURE ART

• Indus valley civilization art

• Mauryan empire art
• Later mauryan sculpture- like gandhar, Mathura and Amravati school
• Art of Gupta and pre medieval age including pala and cholas

4. PAINTING
• Pre Historic Painting – wall paintings, caves and mural paintings, miniature paintings
• Gupta Painting (Ajanta & Bagh)
• Post Gupta Paintings
• Mughal Paintings
• Rajput Paintings
• Pahadi Paintings
• Modern Paintings (Tanjore, Kalighat, Patna, Bengal)
• Folk Paintings (Madhubani, Jadopatia Art)
5. PERFORMING ART

• Different forms of Puppetry in India

• Dance (Classical+Folk Dance) and modern dance forms in India
• Music (Classical+Folk), Indian music, carnatic music
• Drama/Theatre (Classical+Folk), modern theatre, people associated with theatre, Indian
cinema and circus

6. LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

• Ancient India- religious and secular literature

• Religious- vedic Sanskrit, budhha pali and jain prakrit
• Secular- foreigners visitors (Greeks, Chinese and Arabians) and Indian scholars
• South India- sangam (Tamil literature)

7. RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

• Religion (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism) and

Philosophy in Ancient period- heterodox and orthodox (school of 6 philosophies)
• Medieval Era- soofi and bhakti movement

8. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Development of mathematics, physics, chemistry, astrology, medical science and

science technology etc.

9. ART AND CRAFT IN INDIA

- states and UT’s art and crafts

10. FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN INDIA

- religious festivals, secular festivals of states and UT’s

11. SPREAD OF INDIAN CULTURE IN GREATER INDIA AND WORLD

- in south east asia and other parts of world
 WORLD HISTORY
1. RENAISSANCE AND ENLIGHTMENT (INTRODUCTORY)

2. MAJOR EVENTS OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

• American Revolution
• American Civil War
• French Revolution
• Rise of Napolean and his Reforms
• Industrial Revolution in England
• Modernisation of Japan
• Industrial Revolution in USA

3. MAJOR EVENTS OF NINETEENTH CENTURY

• Redrawal of national boundaries

• Rise of nation state
• Unification of Italy and Germany

4. IMPERIALISM AND COLONIALISM

5. MAJOR EVENTS OF 20TH CENTURY

• 1st World War

• Russian Revolution
• World between 1st and 2nd world war like rise of Fascism and Nazism
• Great depression of 1929
• 2nd World War and its impact

6. DECOLONIZATION- CAUSES, IMPACT

7. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES

• Capitalism
• Communism
• Socialism and their forms
 GEOGRAPHY
CLIMATOLOGY GEO MORPHOLOGY
• Origin of Earth and Geological Scale
• Latitudes and Longitudes
• Interior of Earth
• Motions of Earth
• Continental Drift Theory
• Insolation and Heat Budget
• Plate Tectonic Theory
• Atmosphere (structure and
• Volcanism and Earthquake
composition)
• Mountain Building (fold and block
• Temperature
mountains)
• Pressure and Pressure belts
• Rocks
• Winds (Permanent and Local Winds)
• Weathering and Erosion
• Jet Streams
• Cyclones and Anticyclones
INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
• Air Mass
• Geological History of India
• World Climatic Regions
• Physiography of India
• Drainage System
OCEONOGRAPHY
• Climate of India
• Temperature of Oceans • Soils of India
• Salinity of Oceans • Vegetation of India
• Ocean Currents • Resources
• Tides • Agriculture
• Oceanic Waves • Industry
• Tsunami and Storm surges • Transport
• Sea Laws • Populations and Migration
• Marine Resources • Tribes
• Monsoon

ECONOMIC AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

• Economic geography of World : primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary and quinary activities
• World population – distribution and density, races and tribes, settlement and migration
• Natural resources and its distribution across the world.

Note – Map based questions from India and World : location of states, city, minerals, agriculture, industries, important
places, rivers, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc.
 POLITY AND CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE AND

PHILOSOPHY STATE GOVT. AND LOCAL GOVT.

• Historical Philosophy
• State Executive
• Basic structure of Constitution
• State Legislature
• Constitution Background
• High Court and District Court
• Preamble
• Panchayati Raj
• Citizenship
• Municipalities
• Fundamental Rights
• DPSP and State CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES
• Union and its Territories
• Amendments of Constitution • Attorney General
• Advocate General of India
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT • CAG
• Finance Commission
• Parliamentary System
• Public Service Commission
• Federal System
• Election Commission
• Central State Relations
• NCSC
• Inter-State Relations
• NSTC
• Emergency Provisions
• NCBC

UNION GOVERNMENT
EXTRA CONSTITUTIONAL BODIES

• Executive
• NITI Aayog
• Legislative
• NHRC
• Judiciary
• CVC
• CBI
• CIC
• Tribunals
• SHRC
• SIC
• Lokpal
• Lokayukta
• NCPCR etc.
 GOVERNANCE
COMPARISON OF CONSTITUTION
• American Constitution
• British Constitution
• French Constitution
• Japanese Constitution
CONTROL OVER ADMINISTRATION
• Legislative Control
• Executive Control
• Judicial Control
• Public Control
• E-Governance
• RTI, Citizen Charter and Anti-
corruption
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
• Central Secretariat
• Cabinet Secretariat
• Prime Minister Office
STATE ADMINISTRATION
• State Secretariat
• Chief Secretary
• Directorate
• Divisional Commissioner
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
• Role of Civil Services in Democracy
• District Collector
• Subordinate Hierarchy
• Civil Society
LAW AND ORDER ADMINISTRATION
• Role of Central Government
• Role of State Government
• General Police System
• Metropolitan Police
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
• Concept of Budget
• Budget Formulation
• Enactment of Budget
• Implementation of Budget
• Accounting and Auditing
IMPORTANT POLICY OF GOVERNMENT
• Reforms – police, administration,
judicial, political, etc.
• National Policy for Empowerment of
Women
• National Policy for Children
• National Policy for Senior Citizen
• National Youth Policy
• National Policy on Education
• National Population Policy
• Public-Private Partnership
• Right Issues
SECURITY FORCES IN INDIA
• CAPF
• CPMF
 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. BASIC PHILOSOPHY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. FUNDAMENTALS OF INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY

3. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD

• India – China
• India – Pakistan
• India – Bangladesh
• India – Nepal
• India – Bhutan
• India – Sri Lanka
• India – Maldives
• India – Afghanistan

4. BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL GROUPINGS AND AGREEMENTS INVOLVING INDIA

AND/OR AFFECTING INDIA’S INTERESTS
• India – SAARC / South Asia
• India – SCO / Central Asia
• India – Gulf Council / West Asia
• India – East Asia
• India – Africa / Latin America

5. INDIA AND MAJOR WORLD POWERS

• India – US
• India – Russia
• India – UK
• India – France
• India – Japan
• India – Australia etc.
6. IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AGENCIES AND FOR A, THEIR STRUCTURE
AND MANDATE (UN , WTO etc.)

7. EFFECTS OF POLICIES AND POLITICS OF DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON

INDIA’S INTERESTS, INDIAN DIASPORA
Note : All topics with updated current affairs.
 SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

SOCIAL ISSUES

• Salient features of Indian Society

• Diversity of India
• Role of women and women’s organization
• Population and associated issues
• Poverty and developmental issues
• Urbanisation – problems and remedies
• Social empowerment
• Communalism
• Regionalism
• Secularism
• Effects of Globalization on Indian Society

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGO’s,
SHG’s, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre
and States and performance of the schemes, mechanism, laws, institutions
and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these
vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector / Services
relating to health, education, human resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Note : Any current affairs social issues and schemes.
 INDIAN ECONOMY
INDIAN ECONOMY : AN INTRODUCTION PLANNING IN INDIA
• What is Economy? • Meaning
• Significance of Economy • Classification of Planning
• Classification of Economics • Significance
• Components of Economy • Planning in India
• Characteristics of Indian Economy • Changes in Planning
• Economic Liberalization
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT • Reforms
• Meaning of Growth and Development • First Generation
• Challenges before the strategy of • Second Generation
development • Make in India ; Skill india
• Some important indicators of economic • Start-up Policy
growth and development INDIAN AGRICULTURE
• Current Development • Indian Agriculture
• Inclusive Development • Pre-Independence
• After Independence
DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SECTOR • Agricultural reforms
• Poverty and its types, causes and steps • Farmer Commission
taken to redress this problem • Current schemes regarding water
• Other provisions like reports regarding management
poverty and determination of poverty line INDUSTRY
• Schemes regarding eradication of poverty • Industrial Policy
• Unemployment : types, causes and • Challenges and Possibilities
remedies • Globalization and Indian Industries
• Schemes regarding eradication of • FDI in FPI
unemployment • FDI and Retail Sector
• Different social development initiatives and • Labour Reforms
schemes • Insurance
PUBLIC FINANCE • Aviation
• Company Act • Tourism
• Tax-Policy • IT
• Future direction • Comunication
• GST • Transport
• Direct Tax Policy
GOVERNMENT BUDGET AND FISCAL POLICY GLOBALIZATION – CONCEPT

• Economic Policies till 1991 • Globalization – background and causes

• Economic Reforms since 1991 • LPG policies
• Social and Cultural Effect
POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT • Globalization and Women Empowerment
• Globalization and Deprived Group
• Agriculture – Storage • Globalization and Class Division
• Development scheme • Globalization and Industrial Sector
• Transportation Facility and Agriculture • Globalization and Labour Market
Marketing • Globalization and Education
• Contract Farming • The Significance of Globalization in the face
• Agro-Product and Inter-State Marketing of global economic slowdown
• Msp
• Agro-subsidy and Fertilizers-subsidy INDIAN FOREIGN TRADE
• PDS and Reforms
• Food-Security • Commercial-Liberalization
• NFSA • Outcome of Commercial Liberalization
• Growing Current account deficit
MONEY AND BANKING • Falling Rupee
• Indian Trade – Main Challenges
• RBI • Trade in Service Sector
• Banking Reforms – Main Aspects • Special Economic Zone
• Micro Finance • Regional Trade Agreement
• Merger of Banks and Reforms in • Multi lateral agencies like WTO, IMF, WB
Financial Sectors etc.
• Financial Inclusion • Intellectual Property Rights
• Inflation and its types • Foreign Investment
• WPI, CPI, PPI • Convertibility of Rupee
• Debates regarding inflation • Black Money
• Capital Market

Note – Inclusive of current affairs in Economy.

 INTERNAL SECURITY
CONCEPT OF INTERNAL SECURITY
• Introduction
• Components of Internal Security
• Major Challenges
• Responsible Factors
• Internal Security Doctrine
TERRORISM
• Introduction
• Classification of Terrorism
• Motto of ISI
• Active Terrorist Organisations
• Reasons for Spread of Terrorism
• What more can be done
MILITANCY IN J&K
• Historical Background of J&K
• Beginning of Insurgency
• Proxy war in J&K
• Article 370
• Referendum in Kashmir
• TTC in Pakistan
• Problems of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits
INSURGENCY IN NORTH EAST
• Historical Background
• Factors responsible for Insurgency
• AFSPA
• What more can be done
NAXALISM
• What is Naxalism
• Factors responsible for Naxalism
• Administrative Hurdles
• The way forward
• Should army be deployed against
naxals
COMMUNAL VIOLENCE
• Secularism in Indian context
• Factors responsible for Communal
Riots
• The way forward
ORGANISED CRIME
• Introduction
• Link between organized crime and
terrorism
• Types of organized crime
• Bombay Blast 1993
• Black Money
• What more can be done
POLICE REFORM
• How police is governed in India
• What are the problems of police
• What is the need for reform
CYBER CRIME LINK BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND
EXTREMISM
• Cyber Security
• Cyber Crime / Threats • Introduction
• Cyber Warfare • Major Components of
• Threat to India’s Cyber Space Developments
• National Cyber Security Policy 2013 • Factors responsible for Extremism
• Money laundering and its • What should be done
prevention

ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA JUDICIAL REFORM

• Introduction • Introduction
• Traditional Media and Social Media • Present issues in Judiciary
• Negative usage of social media • Suggestions
• Positive usage of social media

SECURITY CHALLENGES IN BORDER AREAS OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS

• Introduction • Rohingya Issue

• Land Boundaries of India • Internal Security Scheme
• Challenges to Managing Borders • Various security forces and their
• Technique of Effective Border mandate
Management • Social Media Policy ………etc……

Note : Inclusive of all current affairs.

 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BIO-TECHNOLOGY
Basics, Stem cells, IVF, Cloning, Three parents baby, Gene Therapy, GM Crops, etc.

SPACE TECHNOLOGY
Basics, About ISRO, Satellite, Launch Vehicles, Indian Space Missions, etc.

DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY
Introduction, Missile Technology, etc.

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Fission energy, Fusion energy. Indian development in this field, etc.

NANOTECHNOLOGY
Introduction and Basics, development in this field, etc.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTERS

Developments and their applications in everyday life, Optical fibers, various
programmes, computer, supercomputers, etc.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ROBOTICS

Introduction and basics, its applications etc.

HEALTH
Various diseases and its related issues, etc.

Applied science and modern day technology with latest research and current
affairs.

NOTE: Above syllabus will be covered with updated current affairs.

 ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
BASICS OF ECOLOGY
• Ecosystem
• Ecotone
• Ecological Niche
• Ecological pyramids
• Keystone, umbrella and indicator species etc.
• Types of Ecosystem

BIODIVERSITY
• Meaning, Importance and Threats
• Biological Hotspots

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
• National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Tiger Reserves and Biosphere Reserves
• Ramsar Convention and Ramsar sites in India

CLIMATE CHANGE

OZONE DEPLETION, ACIDIFICATION, EUTROPHICATION

POLLUTION – ALL TYPES, BIOREMEDIATION

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ; ENERGY RESOURCES

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, TREATIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIONS AND POLICIES

Note – inclusive of all current affairs

 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
• Disaster Management

• Natural Hazard

• Types of Disaster

• Vulnerability

• Causes of Natural Hazards

• Some Important Disasters

- Earthquake
- Landslide
- Flood
- Drought
- Tsunami
- Cyclone
- Fire

• Technical development and Disaster Management

• Disaster Management Cycle

• Global efforts for Disaster Management

Note – with updated current affairs

 ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

• Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders , reformers and
administrators. Role of family, society and educational institutes in inculcating values.

• Attitude – content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and
behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Services – integrity, impartiality and non-
partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy tolerance and
compassion towards the weaker sections.

• Emotional Intelligence – concepts and their utilities; its application in administration and
governance; contribution of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

• Public / Civil service Values in Ethics in Public Administration – status and problem;
ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules,
regulations and conscience as resource of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical
governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in
international relations and funding; corporate governance.

• 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 charter; work culture; quality of service
delivery; utilization of public funds; challenges of corruption. Case studies on above all
issues.

• Ethics and human interface – determinants and consequences of ethics inhuman

actions.

• Contribution of Moral thinkers and philosophies from India and world.

Note – inclusive of current affairs, ethical case studies and issues.

 GENERAL SCIENCE – PRELIMS ONLY
BASIC BIOLOGY
• Life processes and origin of life
• Cells
• Genetics
• Human physiology
• Nutrition
• Bio communication
• Plant biology – plant growth and development
• Human diseases and defense mechanism etc.
GENERAL PHYSICS
• Standards and Units
• Properties of matter and mechanics
• Waves and Sound
• Optics
• Heat
• Nuclear physics
• Electricity and magnetism
• Astronomy and space science
• Gravitation and satellite etc.
DAILY USES OF CHEMISTRY
• Matter and its nature
• Structure of atom
• Periodic table
• Chemical reaction and equations
• Acid, bases and salts
• Chemical bonding
• Metals and non-metals
• Thermodynamics
• Nanotechnology
• Agricultural chemistry
• Medicinal chemistry
• Food chemistry
• Bio-chemistry
• Polymers and plastics
Note – applied science and modern day technology / latest resources and current affairs.