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UPSC Civil Services Exam 2024: Detailed Syllabus and Exam Pattern

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Exam (Prelims), Main Exam (Mains), and Personality Test (Interview). Below is the detailed syllabus and exam pattern for the Prelims and Mains:

UPSC Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

Exam Pattern

• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper).
• Type: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions).
• Number of Papers: 2.
• Duration: 2 hours for each paper.
• Total Marks: 400.
• Negative Marking: 1/3rd marks deducted for each wrong answer.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Duration	Notes
Paper I	General Studies (GS)	200	2 Hours	Merit-ranking in Prelims.
Paper II	Civil Services Aptitude Test	200	2 Hours	Qualifying (33% minimum required).

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Syllabus for Prelims

Paper I: General Studies

1. Current Affairs: Events of national and international importance.
2. History:
   • Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern.
   • Indian National Movement.
3. Geography:
   • Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance:
   • Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues.
5. Economic and Social Development:
   • Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives.
6. Environment and Ecology:
   • General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity, climate change (no subject specialization required).
7. General Science: Basic understanding of science-related topics.

Paper II: CSAT (Qualifying Paper)

1. Comprehension.
2. Interpersonal Skills, including Communication Skills.
3. Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.
4. Decision-making and Problem-solving.
5. Basic Numeracy (Class X level):
   • Numbers, Averages, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion.
6. Data Interpretation:
   • Charts, Graphs, and Tables.

Note 1 : Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Note 2 : The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
Note 3 : It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination.

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UPSC Main Examination (Mains)

Exam Pattern

• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper).
• Type: Descriptive (Written).
• Number of Papers: 9 (7 merit-ranking and 2 qualifying papers).
• Duration: 3 hours per paper.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Nature of Paper
Paper A	Indian Language (Any 8th Schedule Language)	300	Qualifying.
Paper B	English	300	Qualifying.
Paper I	Essay	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper II	General Studies I	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper III	General Studies II	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper IV	General Studies III	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper V	General Studies IV (Ethics)	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper VI	Optional Subject Paper I	250	Merit-ranking.
Paper VII	Optional Subject Paper II	250	Merit-ranking.

• Total Marks (for Merit): 1750.
• Interview Marks: 275.
• Final Merit Calculation: 2025 Marks (Mains + Interview).

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Syllabus for Mains

Qualifying Papers

• Paper A: One Indian Language (chosen from the 8th Schedule of the Constitution).
  • Essay writing, comprehension, grammar, and translation.
• Paper B: English.
  • Essay writing, comprehension, grammar, and precise writing.

Essay (Paper I)

• Write essays on multiple topics, focusing on ideas, clarity, and coherence.
• Topics may include social issues, political scenarios, and international events.

General Studies Papers

PAPER-II
General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
Indian culture will cover the 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 18th 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 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-III
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
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.
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
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.
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 and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
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.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
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 neighborhood- 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.
Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, 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 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; 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.
Land reforms in India.
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment models.
Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Disaster and disaster management.
Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
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.
Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 
PAPER-V
General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.
The following broad areas will be covered :
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; 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 foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and 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 and 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 issues.

Optional Subjects (2 Papers, 500 Marks)

• Candidates choose one subject from a list of 48 options, including History, Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Literature (various languages), etc.

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UPSC Personality Test (Interview)

• Marks: 275.
• Objective: To evaluate personality traits such as confidence, leadership, decision-making ability, and communication skills.
• Areas Covered:
  • Candidate’s background and Detailed Application Form (DAF).
  • Current affairs.
  • Logical and ethical decision-making.

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Key Points

1. Prelims: Focus on broad-based knowledge and quick problem-solving.
2. Mains: Requires analytical writing, depth of knowledge, and coherence.
3. Interview: Tests overall personality, beyond academics.

The UPSC syllabus demands consistent preparation, time management, and strategic planning.