UPSC IAS Syllabus 2020

IAS Prelims Exam Pattern

Number of Papers

2

Type of Questions

MCQs

Number of Questions in GS Paper 1

100

Number of Questions in GS Paper 2

80

Total Marks

400

Exam Duration

2 Hours

Negative Marks

1/3rd marks will be deducted for wrong answers

Medium of Exam

English and Hindi

Cut off Marks based on

GS Paper 1 alone (GS Paper 2 Qualifying in nature)

History of India and Indian National Movement

Economic and Social Development, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives etc.

Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World

General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change that do not require subject specialisation

Indian Polity and Governance Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues etc.

Current events of national and international importance

General Science

Comprehension

Decision-making and problem-solving

Interpersonal skills including communication skills

General mental ability

Logical reasoning and analytical 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) 

Paper

UPSC Exam Pattern

Marks

A

Indian Language - UPSC Syllabus. One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. This paper will not be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim

300 (25% for Qualifying)

B

English Language

300 (25% for Qualifying)

Paper-I

Essay - UPSC Syllabus, can be taken in the language of choice. Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to stick to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

250

Paper-II

General Studies-I - UPSC IAS Syllabus Topics -.Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

250

Paper-III

General Studies-II - UPSC IAS Syllabus Topics - Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

250

Paper-IV

General Studies-III - UPSC IAS Syllabus Topics - Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

250

Paper-V

General Studies-IV - UPSC IAS Syllabus Topics - Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

250

Paper-VI

Optional - Paper 1

250

Paper-VII

Optional - Paper 2

250

Subject

Topics

Indian Heritage and Culture

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Modern Indian History

• 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.

World History

• 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.

Indian 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.

Geography

• 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 sec- tor 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 waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Subject

Topics

Indian Polity and Constitution

• 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 disputes 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.

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 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 or Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Governance

• 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.

International Relations

• 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.

Subject

Topics

Indian Economy

• 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

• 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, nanotechnology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Environment

• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Disaster Management

• Disaster and disaster management.

Security 

• 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, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cybersecurity; 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.

Subject

Topics

Ethics and Human Interface

• 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

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

Aptitude

• 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

• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.

Civil Services Values and Probity in Governance

• 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 the above issues.

Agriculture - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Management - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Mathematics - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Anthropology - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Mechanical Engineering - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Botany - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Medical Science - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Chemistry - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Philosophy - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Civil Engineering - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Physics - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Commerce and Accountancy - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Political Science and International Relations - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Economics - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Psychology - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Electrical Engineering - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Public Administration - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Geography - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Sociology - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Geology - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Statistics - UPSC IAS Syllabus

History - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Zoology - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Law - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Assamese - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Manipuri - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Bengali - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Marathi - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Bodo - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Nepali - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Dogri - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Oriya - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Gujarati - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Punjabi - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Hindi - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Sanskrit - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Kannada - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Santhali - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Kashmiri - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Sindhi - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Konkani - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Tamil - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Maithili - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Telugu - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Malayalam - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Urdu - UPSC IAS Syllabus

English - UPSC IAS Syllabus

Subject

Must Read (NCERT)

Primary Material

Reference Material

History

OLD NCERTs: Ancient India RS Sharma Medieval India Sathish Chandra Modern India Bipan Chandra

New NCERTs: 9th to 12th Standard New NCERTs Themes in Indian History

Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum) 

Geography

Geography NCERTs 6th to 12th Contemporary India (9th and 10th standard) Fundamentals of Physical Geography

(11th Standard) India Physical environment (11th Standard) Fundamentals of Human Geography (12th Standard) India People and Economy (12th Standard)

Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong

School Atlas - Oxford or Orient BlackSwan School Atlas

Indian Polity

Political Science NCERTs (11th and 12th Standard) Indian Constitution at Work Politics in India Since Independence

Indian Polity - Laxmikanth

Science

Science NCERTs (6th to 12th Standard)

Hindu Newspaper Science and Tech Weekly Column (Sunday)

Indian Economy

Economy 11th and 12th NCERTs Micro and Macroeconomics Indian Economic Development

Indian Economy - Ramesh Singh

Art and Culture

Art and Culture NCERTs (11th Standard) Introduction to Indian Art

Indian Art and Culture By Nitin Singhania

Environment

Science Biology 12th Standard NCERT (Last four Chapters 13 to 16)

Shankar IAS Environment Material (Act, Policies and Convention)

IGNOU Environment notes.

Current Affairs

The Hindu or Indian Express

Live Mint, Economic Times, Business Standard

Magazines

Yojana

Kurukshetra Frontline Economic and Political Weekly

Year Book

India Year Book - PIB Publication