Hi Readers!
I hope this post
will be useful to you.
The Civil
services exam is conducted in three phases:
Phase 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type)
Phase 2: Civil Services (Mains) Examination (Descriptive Type)
Phase 3: Personal Interview (Personality Test)
Let's look into
each phase in detail.
Phase 1: UPSC Prelims Exam
The UPSC Civil
Services Prelims Examination is composed of two components:
|
Paper |
Subjects |
Total
Marks |
Duration |
|
I |
General
Studies |
200 |
2 hours
(9:30 AM to 11:30 AM) |
|
II |
CSAT |
200 |
2 hours
(2:30 PM to 4:30 PM) |
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
- Syllabus
for GS Paper (Prelims Paper I)
- Current
events of national and international importance.
- History
of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian
and World Geography-Physical, Social, 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 specialization.
- General
Science
- Syllabus
for CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper-II)
- 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)
Previous Year Prelims Question Papers 2011-2019
Phase 2: UPSC Mains Exam (1750 Marks)
- The
Mains examination constitutes the 2nd phase of the Civil Services
Examination. Only after successfully qualifying in the prelims exam would
the candidates be allowed to write the IAS Mains.
- The
Mains exam tests the candidate’s academic talent in depth and his/her
ability to present his/her understanding according to the requirements of
the question in a time-bound manner.
- The
UPSC Mains exam consists of 9 papers, out of which two are qualifying
papers of 300 marks each.
- The
two qualifying papers are:
- Any
Indian Language
- English
Language Paper
The papers on Essay, General Studies and Optional Subject of only such
candidates who attain 25% marks in both the language papers as a minimum
qualifying standard in these qualifying papers will be taken cognizance of, for
evaluation.
In case a candidate does not qualify in these language papers, then the
marks obtained by such candidates will not be considered or counted.
Structure of the language papers:
The types of
questions asked are –
- Essay
– 100 marks
- Reading
comprehension – 60 marks
- Precis
Writing – 60 marks
- Translation:
- English
to compulsory language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks
- Compulsory
language to English – 20 marks
- Grammar
and basic language usage – 40 marks
The rest of the
seven papers can be written in any of the languages mentioned under the Eighth
Schedule of the Constitution of India or in English.
UPSC Mains
Outlet
|
Paper |
Subject |
Marks |
|
Paper-I |
Essay
(can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice) |
250 |
|
Paper-II |
General
Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the
World & Society) |
250 |
|
Paper-III | General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) |
250 |
|
Paper-IV | General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) |
250 |
|
Paper-V | General Studies - IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) |
250 |
|
Paper-VI |
Optional
Subject - Paper I |
250 |
|
Paper-VII |
Optional
Subject - Paper II |
250 |
Syllabus of UPSC Main Examination Papers
I. Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and
English
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
English Language:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
Indian Languages:
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and
vice-versa.
II. 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.
III. Paper-II: General Studies-I
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the
World and Society.
(i) Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art
Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
(ii) Modern Indian history from about the middle of the
eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities,
issues.
(iii) The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and
important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
(iv) Post-independence consolidation and reorganization
within the country.
(v) 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.
(vi) Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of
India.
(vii) Role of women and women’s organization, population
and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their
problems and their remedies.
(viii) Effects of globalization on Indian society.
(ix) Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
secularism.
(x) Salient features of world’s physical geography.
(xi) 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).
(xii) 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.
GS-I Previous Year Question Papers (2013-2019)
IV. Paper-III: General Studies-II
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International
relations.
(i) Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings,
evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
(ii) 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.
(iii) Separation of powers between various organs dispute
redressal mechanisms and institutions.
(iv) Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with
that of other countries.
(v) Parliament and State legislatures—structure,
functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising
out of these.
(vi) 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.
(vii) Salient features of the Representation of People’s
Act.
(viii) Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers,
functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
(ix) Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial
bodies.
(x) Government policies and interventions for development
in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
(xi) Development processes and the development industry
—the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities,
institutional and other stakeholders.
(xii) 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.
(xiii) Issues relating to development and management of
Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
(xiv) Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
(xv) Important aspects of governance, transparency and
accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and
potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and
institutional and other measures.
(xvi) Role of civil services in a democracy.
(xvii) India and its neighborhood- relations.
(xviii) Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
(xix) Effect of policies and politics of developed and
developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
(xx) Important International institutions, agencies and
fora - their structure, mandate.
GS-II Previous Year Question Papers (2013-2019)
V. Paper-IV: General Studies-III
Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity,
Environment, Security and Disaster Management
(i) Indian Economy and issues relating to planning,
mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
(ii) Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
(iii) Government Budgeting.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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.
(vi) Food processing and related industries in India-
scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply
chain management.
(vii) Land reforms in India.
(viii) Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in
industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
(ix) Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports,
Railways etc.
(x) Investment models.
(xi) Science and Technology- developments and their
applications and effects in everyday life.
(xii) Achievements of Indians in science & technology;
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
(xiii) Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers,
robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual
property rights.
(xiv) Conservation, environmental pollution and
degradation, environmental impact assessment.
(xv) Disaster and disaster management.
(xvi) Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
(xvii) Role of external state and non-state actors in
creating challenges to internal security.
(xviii) 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.
(xix) Security challenges and their management in border
areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
(xx) Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
GS-III Previous Year Question Papers (2013-2019)
VI. 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:
(i) 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.
(ii) Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence
and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social
influence and persuasion.
(iii) 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.
(iv) Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities
and application in administration and governance.
(v) Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from
India and world.
(vi) 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.
(vii) 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.
(viii) Case Studies on above issues.
GS-IV Previous Year Question Papers (2013-2019)
VII. Paper – VI & VII
Optional Subject Papers I & II.
A candidate may opt for any one Optional Subject from the
following:
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
(iii) Anthropology
(iv) Botany
(v) Chemistry
(vi) Civil Engineering
(vii) Commerce and Accountancy
(viii) Economics
(ix) Electrical Engineering
(x) Geography
(xi) Geology
(xii) History
(xiii) Law
(xiv) Management
(xv) Mathematics
(xvi) Mechanical Engineering
(xvii) Medical Science
(xviii) Philosophy
(xix) Physics
(xx) Political Science and International Relations
(xxi) Psychology
(xxii) Public Administration
(xxiii) Sociology
(xxiv) Statistics
(xxv) Zoology
(xxvi) 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.
Each Optional Subject has 2 compulsory papers
Phase 3: IAS Interview/UPSC Personality Test (275 Marks)
- Candidates who qualify the UPSC Mains Exam will be called for the ‘Personality Test/Interview’. These candidates will be interviewed by a Board appointed by the UPSC.
- The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in the civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
- The interview is more of a purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.
- The interview test will be of 275 marks and the total marks for written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks based on which the final merit list will be prepared.
