UPSC Syllabus 2024: Prelims and Mains PDF Download

UPSC Syllabus 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Service Examination (CSE), which is the most prestigious examination in the country. Every year, lakhs of candidates fill out the application form to compete for approximately a thousand posts. Candidates must focus on establishing a solid understanding of the UPSC syllabus in order to do well in the UPSC CSE.

The UPSC prelims consists of two papers, i.e. General Studies (GS) 1 and General Studies (GS) 2, where the important subjects in GS 1 are   history, geography, economics, polity, current affairs, science and technology, etc. and the important subjects for GS 2 are quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, English, etc.

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UPSC Syllabus 2024: Overview

UPSC Syllabus serves as a blueprint for the exams for IAS Officers, IPS Officers, etc. The syllabus outlines the topics and subjects for the candidates that can be asked in the examination. It becomes crucial to understand every aspect of the examination, including the syllabus and its structure. Check the table below for overview of the UPSC CSE 2024

UPSC Syllabus 2024

The purpose of the UPSC syllabus is to evaluate candidates' knowledge, aptitude, and analytical skills. It consists of two papers  GS Paper I and GS Paper II (commonly known as the CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test) are two required papers in the UPSC Syllabus for Prelims. Numerous topics are covered in prelims, such as current events, science, geography, economics, politics, history, and the environment.

Attempt UPSC IAS Mock Test based on latest exam pattern

The UPSC mains exam consists of 9 specialised subjects: one essay paper, four General Studies papers, two optional subject papers, and two language papers (both qualifying in nature).

 UPSC Prelims Syllabus Paper 1

The UPSC Prelims syllabus of General Studies (GS) Paper I consists of subjects such as Current events of national and international importance, history of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World, Indian Polity and Governance Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights, Issues, etc., Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change that do not require subject specialisation and general science. 

UPSC Prelims Syllabus Paper 2

The UPSC IAS Prelims syllabus of General Studies (GS) Paper II, generally known as CSAT, consists of subjects such as comprehension, interpersonal skills, including communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision-making and problem solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.) (Class X level). The CSAT paper is also qualifying in nature, in which candidates need to score a minimum of 33% marks.

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2024

The UPSC main syllabus is the written exam, which consists of 9 papers, including essay, general studies paper and an optional subject. The main exam evaluates the candidate's deep understanding of a particular topic and candidate's ability to articulate their understanding within the given time frame. The examination will consist of  nine papers, including two qualifying papers of 300 marks each in any Indian language and English. Candidates must score at least 25% in both qualifying papers for their Essay, General Studies, and Optional Subject papers to be considered for evaluation.

UPSC Mains Essay 2024 

The UPSC IAS Essay is also known as Paper 1, where candidates are required to write an essay on the given topic. The candidates will be asked to write and organise their thoughts in an orderly manner. The more score will be given to candidates who have written in a precise and effective form,

UPSC IAS Mains General Studies 2024

The UPSC IAS Mains General Studies consists of 4 papers on General Studies, i.e., General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, and General Studies IV. The topics that are covered in each paper are listed below:

• GS Paper I consists of Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
• GS Paper II consists of Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
• GS Paper III consists of Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
• GS Paper IV consists of Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

UPSC IAS Mains Optional Subjects

Candidates can choose one optional subject from a list provided by the UPSC. The syllabus for optional subjects varies depending on the subject chosen. There will be two paper from the optional chosen. Candidates can find the list of optional subjects provided by UPSC:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Anthropology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology

UPSC Mains English Paper

The UPSC IAS Main English paper includes a variety of topics that assess the candidates' comprehension, analytical, and writing skills. The topics include essay writing, precise writing, literary comprehension, etc.

UPSC Mains Language Paper

The candidates need to select one of the languages mentioned in the Indian Schedule. This paper is qualifying in nature. The list of languages is given below

• Assamese
• Bengali
• English
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Kannada
• Maithili
• Malayalam
• Manipuri
• Marathi
• Punjabi
• Sanskrit
• Sindhi
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Urdu

UPSC Interview 2024

The UPSC IAS exam's final phase is the interview. The UPSC announces the final results after the conclusion of the interview phase. There is no defined syllabus for the interview, the questions mostly consist of current issues and personality checks

UPSC preparation strategy for beginners 

Once you understand the UPSC exam pattern, it is time to make a study plan so that maximum time can be used for preparation. We have written a dedicated article on some of the best tips after talking to many experts so that it will be helpful for you in making an effective plan. Read here about the preparation strategy for beginners

NCERT Books for UPSC

NCERT books are considered the backbone of a candidate's UPSC preparation. These books are published by the government of India and are widely recognized for their quality and accuracy. NCERT books hold immense significance in the field of UPSC preparation. These books are designed by experts in respective subjects, ensuring a comprehensive and well-structured approach to learning. The content provided in NCERT books is aligned with the UPSC syllabus, making them an invaluable resource for aspirants. Moreover, the language used in NCERT books is reader-friendly, simplifying complex topics and aiding in better comprehension. Check out our article on which NCERT Books to refer for UPSC preparation

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