UPSC Civil Services Exam Notes
UPSC Civil Services Exam Notes/
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Syllabus

Prelims Examination - Objective Type
Rules
  1. The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks in the subjects set out in sub-section (A) of Section-II.
  1. This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit.
  1. There will be negative marking for incorrect answers (as detailed below) for all questions except some of the questions where the negative-marking will be inbuilt in the form of different marks being awarded to the most appropriate and not so appropriate answer for such questions.
  1. There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.
  1. If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happen to be correct and there will be same penalty as above for that question.
  1. If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is given by the candidate; there will be no penalty for that question.
  1. Both the question papers will be of the objective type (multiple choice questions)
  1. The General Studies Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33% (iii) the question papers will be set both in Hindi and English
  1. The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
  1. It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation.
  1. Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%
Paper 1 → Preliminary Examination → 200 marks → Duration : Two hours
  1. Current events of
    1. national importance
    2. international importance
  1. History of
    1. History India
    2. Indian National Movement.
  1. Indian and World Geography
    1. Physical Geography of India and the World
    2. Social Geography of India and the World
    3. Economic Geography of India and the World.
  1. Indian Polity and Governance
    1. Constitution
    2. Political System
    3. Panchayati Raj
    4. Public Policy
    5. Rights Issues
  1. Economic and Social Development
    1. Sustainable Development
    2. Poverty
    3. Inclusion
    4. Demographics
    5. Social Sector Initiatives
  1. General issues on
    1. Environmental Ecology
    2. Bio-diversity
    3. Climate Change
      4. that do not require subject specialisation
Paper 2 → Civil Service Aptitude Test → 200 marks → Duration: Two hours
  1. Comprehension
  1. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
  1. Logical Reasoning
  1. Analytical ability
  1. Decision-making
  1. Problem Solving
  1. General Mental Ability - Basic numeracy
    1. numbers and their relations
    2. orders of magnitude
  1. Class X level → Data interpretation
    1. charts
    2. graphs
    3. tables
    4. data sufficiency
Mains Examination - Written and Interview (2025 Marks)
Rules of Examination
  1. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination.
  1. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main Examination.
  1. The Main Examination will consist of written examination and an interview test.
  1. The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type in the subjects out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature.
  1. Marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VlI) and Marks obtained in Interview for Personality Test will be counted for ranking.
  1. Candidates, who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test.
  1. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice the number of vacancies to be filled.
  1. The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks). Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking.
  1. Candidates will be allotted to the various services keeping in view their ranks in the Examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various services and posts.
Methodology of Checking
  1. The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.
  1. The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialised study.
  1. The questions will be such as to test a candidate's general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.
  1. The questions are likely to test the candidate's basic understanding of all relevant issues and ability to analyse and take a view on conflicting socio- economic goals, objectives and demands.
  1. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers. The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level i.e. a level higher than the bachelors' degree and lower than the masters' degree.
  1. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors degree.
Qualifying Papers → Syllabus & Rules
Syllabus
  1. Paper-A - 300 Marks - Hindi Language
    1. Comprehension of given passages
    2. Precis Writing
    3. Usage and Vocabulary
    4. Short Essays
    5. Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa.
  1. Paper-B - 300 Marks - English Language
    1. Comprehension of given passages
    2. Precis Writing
    3. Usage and Vocabulary
    4. Short Essays
Rules
  1. The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and Paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
  1. Evaluation of the papers, namely, ‘Essay’, General Studies and Optional Subject of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on 'Indian Languages' and 'English' but the papers on ‘Essay’, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognisance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language and 25% marks in English as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers.
  1. The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
  1. Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper-I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.
Aim of Paper
  1. The aim of the paper is to test the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian Language concerned.
Method of Taking Exam
  1. The Papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only.
  1. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking
  1. The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
Merit Papers → Syllabus & Rules
General Studies + Essay + Optional → 1750 Marks
Paper-1 → Essay 250 Marks
  1. Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics.
  1. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely.
  1. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
Paper-2 → General Studies 1 → 250 Marks Indian Heritage and Culture History of the World and Society Geography of the World and Society
  1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
  1. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
  1. The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
  1. Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country
  1. History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonisation, decolonisation, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
  1. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and their remedies. Effects of globalisation on Indian society Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  1. Salient features of world's physical geography.
  1. Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); 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.
Paper-3 → General Studies 2 → 250 Marks Governance Constitution Polity Social Justice International relations
  1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
  1. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
  1. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
  1. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
  1. 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.
  1. Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
      2. ( Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
  1. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
  1. Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
  1. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
  1. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
  1. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
      2. ( Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
  1. Role of civil services in a democracy.
  1. India and its neighbourhood - relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora.
  1. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Paper-4 → General Studies 3 → 250 Marks Technology Economic Development Biodiversity Environment Security Disaster Management)
  1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
  1. Government Budgeting. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints;
      2. ( e-technology in the aid of farmers Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices;
      ( Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
      ( Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
  1. Land reforms in India. Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
  1. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
      2. ( Investment models. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievement of Indians in science & technology; indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
  1. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
  1. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment Disaster and disaster management.
  1. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
      2. ( Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
  1. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
  1. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organised crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Paper-5 → General Studies 4 → 250 Marks Ethics Integrity Aptitude Case Studies
  1. This paper will include questions to test the candidates attitude and approach to issues relating to
    1. integrity
    2. probity in public life and
    3. his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society.
      4. PS : Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects
  1. Ethics and Human Interface
    1. Essence
    2. determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions
    3. dimensions of ethics
    4. ethics in private and public relationships
  1. Human Values
    1. lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders
    2. reformers and administrators
    3. role of family
    4. society and
    5. educational institutions in inculcating values.
  1. Attitude
    1. content
    2. structure
    3. function
    4. its influence and relation with thought and behaviour
    5. moral and political attitudes
    6. social influence and persuasion.
  1. Other Important Points
    1. Aptitude and Foundational values for Civil Service
    2. integrity
    3. impartiality
    4. non-partisanship
    5. objectivity
    6. dedication to public service
    7. empathy
    8. tolerance and
    9. compassion towards the weaker-sections
Paper-VI Optional Subject - Paper 1 250 Marks
Paper-VII Optional Subject - Paper 2 250 Marks
Personality Test → 250 Marks
  1. Test of Personality
  1. Board of 5 Members
  1. 60 or below → Even if Mains Marks are Supportive, You are Rejected
  1. 120-150 → Mains Marking will lead you to the Destiny
  1. 185+ → They want to see you in service
    1. 99% of them have scored 50% Marks in Ethics Paper since 2013
  1. You can’t fool the board members
  1. Method of Procedure of exam
    1. PT is test of personality - Orally
    2. Ethics is test of personality - written
Total Marks → 2025 Marks
Topper is → 50% of 2025
Personality Test Syllabus
Shakal, Soorat, Zaban, Talvar e Nigah, Taseer E Rooh
For a Top 250 Rank
50% Marks in
  1. Optional - Coaching and Practise
  1. Essay - Need to Work upon it
  1. Ethics - These are much rewarding
General Studies 1 to 4
  1. Necessary Evil
  1. Input is to output Ratio is High
  1. Ethics - You Learn about yourself
Paper Checking Methods
  1. They Check for Contradictions in Questions
  1. Most Questions are disguised as Inventories
AWP & What UPSC Wants
  1. Be concerned about answer writing, but not be in a worry about it
  1. UPSC Want people who are less imperfect, not perfectionist
  1. Start writing answers, let that be not the Best answers
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