IAS – Syllabus

Civil services Examination conducted by UPSC(Union Public Service Commission) to get into IAS comprises of three successive stages:

  1. Preliminary Examination: Its consists of two papers–

General Studies Paper I

Maximum marks : 200
Number of Questions : 100
Total Time : 120 minutes (02 hours)

Syllabus

  1. Current events of national and international importance
  2. History of India and Indian national movement
  3. Indian and World Geography
  4. Indian Polity and governance
  5. Economic and social development
  6. General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change
  7. General Science

General Studies Paper II

Maximum marks : 200
Number of Questions : 80
Total Time : 120 minutes (02 hours)

Syllabus

  1. Comprehension based on issues.
  2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
    3. Logical reasoning & analytical ability
  3. Decision making & problem solving
  4. General mental ability
  5. Basic numeracy
  6. English language comprehension skills (Class X level).

Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of Candidates to be admitted to the Main Examination will be about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination. Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Preliminary Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main Examination of that year .

2. Main Exam:

Paper Subject Name Marks
Paper-1 Essay 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 andInternational relations) 250
Paper-4 General Studies –III  (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) 250
Paper-5 General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250
Paper-6 Optional Subject – Paper 1 250
Paper-7 Optional Subject – Paper 2 250
Sub Total (Written test) 1750
Personality Test 275
Grand Total 2025

List Of Optional Subjects For Main Examination

  1. Interview:

  • The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental calibre of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

  • The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross‐examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

  • The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an
    intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.