The UPSC CSE, or Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, is a highly competitive examination conducted by the UPSC in India. It is often considered one of the most prestigious and challenging competitive exams in the country. The UPSC CSE is the gateway to a career in the Indian Civil Services, which includes positions like the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, and various other Group A and Group B services
Eligiblity
Qualification
Stages
Nationality
For the IAS, IFS, and IPS, candidates must be Indian citizens.
For all other services, candidates must be one of the following:
An Indian citizen
A citizen of Nepal
A citizen of Bhutan
A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India
A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
Candidates in categories (b), (c), (d), and (e) must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Candidates who need a certificate of eligibility may be admitted to the examination, but they will not be offered a position until they have received the necessary certificate from the Government of India.
Civil Services Exam Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 21 years old and not have reached 32 years old on August 1, 2024. This means that candidates must have been born no earlier than August 2, 1992, and no later than August 1, 2003.
The upper age limit is relaxed for the following categories:
Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST): 5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 years
Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area: 3 years
Candidates must hold a graduate degree from any of the following:
A university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India
An educational institution established by an Act of Parliament
An institution declared to be deemed as a university under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956
Candidates who have appeared at a qualifying examination but have not yet received their results, or who intend to appear at such an examination, are also eligible to apply. However, all candidates who are declared qualified by the Commission for the Civil Services (Main) Examination will be required to produce proof of passing the requisite qualifying examination along with their application for the Main Examination. Candidates who fail to do so will not be admitted to the Main Examination.
In exceptional cases, the Commission may treat a candidate who does not have any of the foregoing qualifications as eligible, provided that the candidate has passed an examination conducted by any other institution the standard of which in the opinion of the Commission justifies admission to the Civil Services Examination.
Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also eligible for admission to the Civil Services Examination.
The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:
Preliminary Examination (Prelims): It consists of two papers - General Studies (GS) Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (Civil Services Aptitude Test or CSAT). The Prelims are of qualifying nature, and the marks scored in Paper-II are not counted for the Mains exam.
Mains Examination (Mains): It includes a written examination consisting of nine papers, including two qualifying language papers and seven merit-based papers.
Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who qualify the Mains examination are called for an interview, which is intended to assess their personality, knowledge, and suitability for a career in the civil services.
All About UPSC Syllabus
The UPSC syllabus is designed to assess candidates' knowledge, aptitude, and analytical abilities, and it comprises two stages: the Preliminary Examination (Prelims) and the Main Examination (Mains), followed by an interview/personality test. The UPSC Syllabus for Prelims includes two compulsory papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (also known as the CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test). These papers cover a wide range of subjects, including history, geography, economics, polity, environment, science, and current affairs.
The syllabus for UPSC Mains examination is more specialized and consists of nine papers, including one essay paper, four General Studies papers, two optional subject papers, and two language papers (both qualifying in nature).
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
UPSC Mains Syllabus
The first stage of the exam, i.e., the Civil Services Preliminary Exam is only a screening test and is conducted to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. Marks secured in the Preliminary Exam are not taken into account while preparing the final merit.
Preliminary Exam consists of two papers of objective type carrying a maximum of 400 marks.
No. of Papers
2 compulsory papers
Type of Questions
Objective (MCQ) type
Total Maximum Marks
400 (200 each paper)
Duration of Exam
2 hrs. each (20 minutes per hour extra time for blind candidates & candidate with Locomotor Disability & Cerebral Palsy [minimum 40% impairment])
Negative Marking
1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question
Medium of Exam
Bilingual (Hindi & English)
General Studies Paper-I Syllabus
It has 100 questions broadly covering the following topics, carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours.
Current events of National & International importance.
History of India & Indian National Movement.
Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World.
Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change – that do not require subject specialization.
General Science.
General Studies Paper-II Syllabus
It comprises of 80 questions from the following topics carrying a maximum of 200 marks to be solved in 2 hours.
Comprehension.
Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
Logical reasoning & analytical ability.
Decision making & problem solving.
General mental ability.
Basic numeracy (numbers & their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
General Studies Paper-II of IAS Exam is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%. It is mandatory for a candidate to appear in both the Papers of IAS Prelim Exam for the purpose of evaluation
Civil Services Main Examination consists of written examination and interview (personality test). Civil Services Main Examination consists of following papers divided into 2 categories – qualifying & papers to be counted for merit.
Qualifying Papers
Subject
Marks
Paper-A
One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution
300
Paper-B
English
300
Papers to be Counted for Merit
Paper-I
Essay
250
Paper-II
General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
250
Paper-III
General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)
250
Paper-IV
Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
250
Paper-V
General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
250
Paper-VI
Optional Subject – Paper 1
250
Paper-VII
Optional Subject – Paper 2
250
Sub Total (Written Test)
1750
Personality Test
275
Grand Total
Important Points:
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of qualifying nature and the marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard.
The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such candidates will be taken cognizance who attain 25% marks in ‘Indian Language’ and 25% in ‘English’ as minimum qualifying standards in these qualifying papers.
Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking.
The question papers for the main examination will be of conventional (essay) type and each paper will be of 3 hour duration.
Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers, except the Qualifying Language Papers, Paper-A and Paper-B, in any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India or in English.
The question papers (other than the literature of language papers) will be set in Hindi and English only.
Compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour shall be permitted for the Blind candidates and the candidates with locomotor disability and cerebral palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is affected to the extent of slowing the performance of function (minimum of 40% impairment) in both the Civil Services (Preliminary) as well as in the Civil Services (Main) Examination.
UPSC Syllabus for Qualifying Papers (Indian Languages and English)
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
English Language:
Comprehension of given passages.
Precise Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.
Indian Languages:
Comprehension of given passages.
Precise Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.
Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Paper-I: Essay
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics.
They will be expected to keep closely 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.
UPSC GS 1 Syllabus
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 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.
UPSC Syllabus for Mains GS Paper 2
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.
UPSC GS 3 Syllabus
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.
GS Paper 4 Syllabus
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.
UPSC Optional Syllabus
Optional Subject Papers I & II:
A candidate may opt for any one Optional Subject from the following:
UPSC Agriculture Syllabus
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Anthropology Syllabus for UPSC
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
UPSC Commerce and Accountancy Syllabus
UPSC Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
UPSC Geology Syllabus
UPSC History Syllabus
UPSC Law Optional Syllabus
Management
UPSC Maths Optional Syllabus
Mechanical Engineering
UPSC Medical Science Syllabus
UPSC Philosophy Syllabus
UPSC Physics Optional Syllabus
PSIR Optional Syllabus
UPSC Psychology Syllabus
Public Administration Optional Syllabus
Sociology Optional Syllabus
Statistics
Zoology
Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English.
