The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) syllabus is the single most important document for every aspirant. Everything you study — from NCERTs to current affairs — must map back to it. Below is the complete, official-structure syllabus for Prelims and Mains, explained simply
.
UPSC CSE Stages at a Glance
| Stage | Papers | Total Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | 2 papers (GS + CSAT) | 400 | Screening only — marks not counted for merit |
| Main Examination | 9 papers | 1750 (merit) | Written, descriptive |
| Personality Test (Interview) | — | 275 | Oral |
| Grand total (merit) | — | 2025 | — |
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
General Studies Paper I (200 marks, 100 questions)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography — physical, social and economic geography
- Indian Polity and Governance — Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
- Economic and Social Development — sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change (no subject specialisation required)
- General Science
CSAT Paper II (200 marks, 80 questions — qualifying)
- 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 (Class X level)
- Data interpretation — charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency (Class X level)
Important: CSAT is qualifying — you need only 33% (about 67 marks out of 200). But do not ignore it; every year working professionals and engineers get surprised by it.
UPSC Mains Syllabus
Qualifying Papers (marks not counted for merit)
- Paper A — One Indian language from the Eighth Schedule (300 marks, need 25% to qualify)
- Paper B — English (300 marks, need 25% to qualify)
Papers Counted for Merit
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay — two essays | 250 |
| Paper II | GS I — Heritage & Culture, History, Geography, Society | 250 |
| Paper III | GS II — Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, International Relations | 250 |
| Paper IV | GS III — Economy, Agriculture, Environment, Science & Tech, Security, Disaster Management | 250 |
| Paper V | GS IV — Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | 250 |
| Paper VI & VII | Optional Subject — Paper I & II | 250 + 250 |
| Total | — | 1750 |
GS Paper I — Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society
Art and culture from ancient to modern times, modern Indian history (1750s–present), freedom struggle, post-independence consolidation, world history (industrial revolution, world wars, colonisation), physical and human geography of India and the world, and Indian society — diversity, women, urbanisation, communalism, regionalism.
GS Paper II — Polity, Governance & International Relations
Constitution — features, amendments, federal structure; Parliament, judiciary, executive; governance — transparency, accountability, e-governance; welfare schemes; social justice — health, education, vulnerable sections; India and its neighbourhood, bilateral groupings, international institutions.
GS Paper III — Economy, Environment & Security
Indian economy — growth, sectors, government budgeting; agriculture and food processing; infrastructure; science & technology developments; environment — conservation, EIA, climate change; internal security — extremism, cyber security, border management; disaster management.
GS Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
Ethics and human interface, attitude, emotional intelligence, moral thinkers (Indian and world), civil service values — integrity, impartiality, accountability, empathy — and case studies on real administrative dilemmas.
Personality Test (Interview) — 275 Marks
The interview is not a knowledge test — the Mains already checked that. The board assesses your personality: clarity of thought, balanced judgement, leadership potential, integrity and awareness of the world around you. No fixed syllabus; current affairs and your Detailed Application Form (hobbies, background, optional subject) drive the questions.
Download the Official UPSC Syllabus
Always verify against the official source. The complete syllabus is published in every year’s CSE notification on upsc.gov.in — download the notification PDF and keep it on your desk. If any coaching site’s version differs from the official one, the official one wins.
How to Use This Syllabus
- Print it and pin it up. Read it once a month — your understanding of it will deepen as you study.
- Map every book to it. Before starting any book, ask: which GS paper and topic does this chapter serve?
- Use it for answer writing. Mains answers must stay within the syllabus’s demands — no syllabus, no direction.
- Revise the static parts early. Polity, history and geography change slowly; finish them first, then ride current affairs on top.