UPSC Mains Syllabus

Paper - I Candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics. This will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely.

Paper - II General Studies (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society).

Indian Culture-Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present-significant events, personalities, issues. The Freedom Struggle-its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country. History of the World will include events from 18^th century such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc. Their forms and effect on the society. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of Women and Women's Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies. Effects of Globalization on Indian society. Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism. Salient features of World's Physical Geography. Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India). Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. India and its neighbourhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global grouping and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries, Indian diaspora. Important International Institutions, Agencies and Further Structure, Mandate etc.

Paper-III General Studies (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social justice & International Relations)

Indian Constitution historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. Separation of powers, redressed mechanisms and institutions. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries. Parliament and State Legislatures, structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers, privileges and issues arising out of these. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity, Salient features of the Representation of People's Act. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors, Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors and charities. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability. E-governance-applications, models, successes, limitations and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. Role of civil services in a Democracy India and its neighbourhood relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, Agencies and Further Structure, Mandate etc. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors. Development processes and the development industry - the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities. Roles of civil services in a democracy.

Paper-IV General Studies (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.)

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. Government Budgeting. Major crops cropping patterns, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints. E-technology in the aid of farmers, Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies. Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing. Food processing and related industries in India-scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. Land reforms in India. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. Public Distribution System Objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc. Investment models. Science and technology-developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. 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, Security challenges and their management in border areas. Linkages of organized crime with terrorism. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Paper-V General Studies (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values, lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values. Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. Aptitude and functional values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections. Issues relating to integrity, probity in public life. Emotional intelligence-concepts and their utilities and application in administration and governance. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world. Public / Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions, laws, rules, regulations. Conscience as sources 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 Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. Case studies on above topics.