The UPSC syllabus is released alongside the official notification for the UPSC CSE 2022 examination. The syllabus is divided into 2 parts – Prelims and Mains. Candidates need to be well-versed with the syllabus before they start their preparation. The syllabus for UPSC is vast in volume and often difficult to cover, so one can plan a detailed strategy for their preparation through the syllabus.
The syllabus is the same as past year’s and saw no change. Candidates can go download the syllabus directly from UPSC’s website in either English or Hindi. UPSC exam is one of the foremost sought-after exams and provides high-end salaries and distinguished posts. Thus, to crack these exams it is necessary to have clear knowledge and strategy.
The Prelims Examination is the screening stage of the Civil Service Examination by the Union Public Service Commission. It is the first stage of the selection process, and the candidate must clear Prelims to qualify for the Mains examination. Prelims are divided between 2 papers – General Studies and CSAT. The syllabus is as follows:
The Mains examination is a set of 9 papers and has a vast syllabus. All the 9 papers are descriptive in nature and 7 out of them will be considered for the merit list while the candidate would be required to qualify for the remaining 2 subjects. Only candidates who have qualified in the Prelims examination are eligible to appear for the Mains examination. The syllabus is as follows:
| Paper | Exam | Marks |
| Paper – 1 | Essay(Can be written in the medium or language of the applicant’s choice) | 250 |
| Paper-2 | General Studies-I(Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
| Paper-3 | General Studies-II(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations) | 250 |
| Paper-4 | General Studies-III(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-variety, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper-5 | General Studies-IV(Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-6 | Optional Subject – Paper-I | 250 |
| Paper-7 | Optional Subject – Paper-II(A Candidate can likewise take up writing as a discretionary subject and the applicant need not be an alumnus in that language’s literature.) | 250 |
The interview stage is conducted to mark the candidate’s personal capability for upholding the responsibility of being a public service officer. Interviews allow the board to gain insight into the mental fitness of the candidate. This amalgamates the academic style approach of Prelims and Mains with a test of social attributes and interest, to produce a well-rounded officer. There is no clear syllabus for the Interview stage, but candidates are advised to be sharp and alert during the interview. Traits such as critical thinking, clear and logical presentation, mental alertness, the balance of judgment, depth of interest, and leadership skills will be taken into consideration by the board during this assessment.
Know More – UPSC CSE Important Date & Notifications
| Paper | General Studies Paper-I (General Studies) |
| General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) | |
| Total number of Questions | GS Paper 1 – 100 questions CSAT – 80 questions |
| Maximum Marks | GS Paper-I – 200 Marks CSAT – 200 Marks |
| Negative Marking | ⅓ marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer. |
| Duration of the exam | Two hours GS Paper 1 – 2 Hours (9:30 AM -11:30 AM) CSAT – 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM) |
| Title of Paper | Marks Allotted | Duration of the Paper |
| Paper A – Essay writing | 300 Marks | 3 hours |
| Paper B | 300 Marks | 3 hours |
| General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
| General Studies –II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations) | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
| General Studies –III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
| General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
| Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
| Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 Marks | 3 hours |
Choosing the correct book is important since the syllabus is so vast. Hence, candidates can prepare themselves for the exams from the books given below:
| Name of Book | Author |
| India: A Comprehensive Geography | D.R Khuller |
| History – India’s Struggle for Independence | Bipan Chandra |
| Indian Art, and Culture | Nitin Singhania |
| Indian Polity | M Laxmikanth |
| Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh |
| Economic Development & Policies in India | Jain & Ohri |
| Brief History of Recent India | Rajiv Ahir |
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Ans. UPSC has released the syllabus on its official website in both English and Hindi languages and candidates can download the syllabus from there. The Prelims examination is the first stage of UPSC CSE and consists of 2 papers (GS and CSAT), both having objective-type questions. Marks scored in the General Studies paper are considered for Prelims cut-off and determine who moves on to the Mains Examination. The Mains examination consists of 9 papers in total and is descriptive in nature.
Ans. The core subjects to focus on for UPSC CSE are Indian History which includes Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and Pre Independence history, World History, Geography, Budget policies, Economics, and Governance Science. Technology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology International Relations, and International Affairs are key subjects to focus on.
Ans. UPSC CSE is revered to be one of the toughest exams to crack in India. Each year, lakhs of candidates appear for the Prelims examination out of which only 25% clear it and move forward to give the Mains exam. Out of this, approximately 15% move to the interview stage out of which only 50% qualify to become Civil Servants. This brings the success rate of UPSC down to less than 1%. While this is a scary figure, the right preparation can get you through it.
Ans. The Mains examination has 7 papers in total out of which 5 subjects are compulsory and there is one optional subject for which 2 papers need to be given. First is the Essay portion, which can be written in the medium or language of the applicant’s choice. General Studies-I(Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society), General Studies-II(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations), General Studies-III(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-variety, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) and General Studies-IV(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) are the other compulsory subjects.
Ans. Paper A and B, both of which are qualifying papers are 300 marks each and the rest 7 papers are 250 marks each. In total, the mains are of 1750 marks. The interview stage is of another 275 marks bringing the total marks to 2025 marks.
Ans. No, math’s is not a compulsory subject for the UPSC CSE examination and is an optional subject. A candidate who has an interest in the subject or who has a strong base can opt for it, but candidates are open to choosing any optional subject they desire.