UPSC CSE Exam Pattern Overview

Prelims

Paper (Duration) Total Marks No. of Questions Marks per Question Negative Marking
Paper I - General
Studies 200 100 2 1/3rd (0.66)
(2 hrs)
Paper II - CSAT
200 80 2.5 1/3rd (0.83)
(2 hrs)

Prelims Paper II (CSAT) is only qualifying in nature, and a candidate must score a minimum of
33% of the total 200 marks to qualify.

Mains
Paper Marks
Indian Language (Qualifying Paper A)* 300
English (Qualifying Paper B) 300
Essay 250
GS Paper I
(Indian Heritage and Culture, Modern Indian History, Society, World and Indian 250
Geography)
GS Paper II
250
(Polity and Constitution, Governance and Social Justice, International Relations)
GS Paper III
(Indian Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, Internal 250
Security)
GS Paper IV
250
(Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
Optional Subject Paper I & II 250×2 =
500

Duration for each of the above exams is 3 hours each

* For Qualifying Paper A, candidates may select from one of the Languages included in the Eighth
Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Interview
Personality Test 275 Marks
General Studies-I
(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)
 Indian Culture - 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.
General Studies-II
(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 andResponsibilities 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.
General Studies-III
(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.
General Studies-IV
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

 Attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and problem solving
approach to various issues and conflicts faced in dealing with society. (Case study approach may be
used).
 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.
 Political Science & International Relations Optional Syllabus For UPSC Mains

PART-I

Political Theory and Indian Politics

 Political theory: meaning and approaches.
 Theories of the state: Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist.
 Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl's theory of justice and its
communitarian critiques.
 Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative
action.
 Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of Human Rights.
 Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy-representative,
participatory and deliberative.
 Concept of power: hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.
 Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.
 Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed
Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, M.N. Roy.
 Western Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx,
Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.

Indian Government and Politics

 Indian Nationalism:
o Political Strategies of India's Freedom struggle : constitutionalism to mass Satyagraha, Non-
cooperation, Civil Disobedience ; millitant and revolutionary movements, Peasant and
workers' movements.
o Perspectives on Indian National Movement: Liberal, Socialist and Marxist; Radical
humanist and Dalit.
 Making of the Indian Constitution: Legacies of the British rule; different social and political
perspectives.
 Salient Features of the Indian Constitution: The Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive
Principles; Parliamentary System and Amendment Procedures; Judicial Review and Basic Structure
doctrine.
 a. Principal Organs of the Union Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and Supreme Court.
b. Principal Organs of the State Government: Envisaged role and actual working of the Executive,
Legislature and High Courts.
 Grassroots Democracy: Panchayati Raj and Municipal Government; significance of 73rd and 74th
Amendments; Grassroot movements.
 Statutory Institutions/Commissions: Election Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General,
Finance Commission, Union Public Service Commission, National Commission for Scheduled
Castes, National Comission for scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women; National
Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Minorities, National Backward Classes
Commission.
 Federalism: Constitutional provisions; changing nature of centre-state relations; integrationist
tendencies and regional aspirations; inter-state disputes.
 Planning and Economic Development : Nehruvian and Gandhian perspectives; role of planning and
public sector; Green Revolution, land reforms and agrarian relations; liberalilzation and economic
reforms.
 Caste, Religion and Ethnicity in Indian Politics.
 Party System: National and regional political parties, ideological and social bases of parties; patterns
of coalition politics; Pressure groups, trends in electoral behaviour; changing socio- economic
profile of Legislators.
 Social Movements: Civil liberties and human rights movements; women's movements;
environmentalist movements
PART II : Comparative Politics and International Relations

Comparative Political Analysis and International Politics

 Comparative Politics: Nature and major approaches; political economy and political sociology
perspectives; limitations of the comparative method.
 State in comparative perspective: Characteristics and changing nature of the State in capitalist and
socialist economies, and, advanced industrial and developing societies.
 Politics of Representation and Participation: Political parties, pressure groups and social movements
in advanced industrial and developing societies.
 Globalisation: Responses from developed and developing societies.
 Approaches to the Study of International Relations: Idealist, Realist, Marxist, Functionalist and
Systems theory.
 Key concepts in International Relations: National interest, Security and power; Balance of power
and deterrence; Transnational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and
globalisation.
 Changing International Political Order:
(a) Rise of super powers; strategic and ideological Bipolarity, arms race and Cold War; nuclear
threat;
(b) Non-aligned movement : Aims and achievements;
(c) Collapse of the Soviet Union; Unipolarity and American hegemony; relevance of non-alignment
in the contemporary world.
 Evolution of the International Economic System: From Brettonwoods to WTO; Socialist economies
and the CMEA (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance); Third World demand for new
international economic order; Globalisation of the world economy.
 United Nations: Envisaged role and actual record; specialized UN agencies-aims and functioning;
need for UN reforms.
 Regionalisation of World Politics: EU, ASEAN, APEC, SAARC, NAFTA.
 Contemporary Global Concerns: Democracy, human rights, environment, gender justice, terrorism,
nuclear proliferation.

India and the World

 Indian Foreign Policy: Determinants of foreign policy; institutions of policy-making; continuity and
change.
 India's Contribution to the Non-Alignment Movement: Different phases; current role.
 India and South Asia:
(a) Regional Co-operation: SAARC-past performance and future prospects.
(b) South Asia as a Free Trade Area.
(c) India's "Look East" policy.
(d) Impediments to regional co-operation: river water disputes; illegal cross-border migration; ethnic
conflicts and insurgencies; border disputes.
 India and the Global South: Relations with Africa and Latin America; leadership role in the demand
for NIEO and WTO negotiations.
 India and the Global Centres of Power: USA, EU, Japan, China and Russia.
 India and the UN System: Role in UN Peace-keeping; demand for Permanent Seat in the Security
Council.
 India and the Nuclear Question: Changing perceptions and policy.
 Recent developments in Indian Foreign policy: India's position on the recent crisis in Afghanistan,
Iraq and West Asia, growing relations with US and Israel; vision of a new world order.