Description

The syllabus for UPSC IAS Examination is given below:-

PAPER I GENERAL STUDIES

PAPER II CSAT

For Complete Official Syllabus- Click Here

NOTE 1. Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

NOTE 2. The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.

NOTE 3. It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Prelim) Examination.

UPSC IAS PRE EXAM SYLLABUS CURRENT AFFAIRS

In UPSC Prelims the focus on dynamic questions has increased in recent years. Even from sections like Polity which were considered to be static, more and more questions seem to have their base in some recent issue/topic in the news. Moreover, Indian Economy and Environment portions in the UPSC Prelims Syllabus focus mostly on Current Affairs.

A few essential sources for current affairs preparation are:

1. Yojana Magazine and Kurukshetra Magazine.
2. Economic and Political Weekly.
3. Press Information Bureau Releases (PIB).
4. The Hindu and The Indian Express.

UPSC IAS PRE EXAM SYLLABUS HISTORY OF INDIA AND INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENTS

1. Ancient History of India  

1.1. Prehistoric cultures in India.
1.2. Indus Valley Civilization. Origins- the different phases- society, economy, and culture- Contacts with other cultures- factors lead to the decline.
1.3. Geographical distribution and characteristics of pastoral and farming society.
1.4. Vedic society-Vedic texts- change from Rigvedic to later Vedic phases.
1.5. Vedic society Religion- Upanishad thought-Political and social organisation, the evolution of the Varna system and monarchy.
1.6. Formation of the State and urbanisation, from the Mahajanapadas to the Nandas.
1.7. Buddhism and Jainism- Factors for the spread of Buddhism.
1.8. The Mauryan Empire- Chandragupta and Megasthenes.
1.9. Ashoka and his inscriptions, his dhamma, culture, administration, and art
1.10. Society of Post-Mauryan India, BC 200- AD 300- Evolution of Jatis.
1.11. The Satavahanas and formation of the state in the Peninsula.
1.12. Sangam texts and society.
1.13. Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Kanishka-Contacts with the outer world.
1.14. Different Religion- Bhagavatism, Shaivism, Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana, Jainism and Culture and art.
1.15. The Guptas and their descendants.
1.16. Literature Science, Arts, Economy, and society -Modification in the political organisation of empire.

2. Medieval Indian History

2.1. Early Medieval India. Major dynasties; Political and Agrarian organisation. Status of women, Extent of social mobility. The Arabs in Sind and the Ghaznavids.
2.2. Cultural trends, 750-1200, Religious circumstances: the significance of temples and monastic institutions; Sankaracharya; Islam; Sufism. Art and architecture. Literature and Science.
2.3. 13th and 14th Centuries: Ghorian invasions reasons and consequences. Delhi Sultanate under the Slave Rulers. Aladdin Khalji: invasion; administrative, agrarian and economic measures. Muhammad Tughlug’s innovations. Firuz Tughluq and the decline of the Delhi Sultanate. Development of urbanisation and commerce. Spiritual movements in Hinduism and Islam. Literature. Architecture, Technological changes.
2.4. The 15th and early 16th Century: Key Provincial dynasties; Vijayanagara Empire. The Lodhis, First stage of the Mughal Empire: The Sur Empire and administration. Monotheistic movements: Kabir; Guru Nanak and Sikhism; Bhakti. The spread of regional literature. Art and Culture.
2.5. The Mughal Empire, Akbar: invasion, administrative measures, Policy of Sulh-I-Kul. Jagir and Mansab systems; Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb: extension of Mughal empire in the Deccan; religious policies. Shivaji. Persian and regional literature. Religious idea: Abul Fazl; Maharashtra dharma. Architecture. Painting. Economy: state of affairs of peasants and artisans, escalation in trade; trade with Europe. Social stratification and position of women.
2.6. The decline of the Mughal Empire, Reason behind the decline. Maratha power under the Peshwas. The Afghans. Regional states. Most important components of composite culture. Sawai Jai Singh, astronomer. The rise of the Urdu language.

3. Modern India Indian National Movement

3.1. British extension: The Carnatic Wars, invasion of Bengal. Mysore and its confrontation to British expansion: The three Anglo-Maratha Wars. Regulating and Pitt’s India Acts. Early composition of the British raj.
3.2. Economic Impact of the British Raj: land revenue settlements like Zamindari, Ryotwari, Mahalwari; Deindustrialisation; Railways and commercialisation of agriculture; increase of landless labour.
3.3. Cultural encounter and social changes: the inception of western education and modern thoughts. Indian Renaissance, religious and social reform movements; Social reforms events before 1857. Development of Indian middle class; the vernacular press and its effects: the rise of modern literature in Indian languages.
3.4. Confrontation to British rule: Early uprisings; The 1857 Revolt-reasons, character, course and result.
3.5. Indian Freedom struggle the first stage: Growth of national consciousness; creation of Associations; Establishment of the Indian National Congress and its Moderate stage; Swadeshi Movement; Economic Nationalism; The development of Extremism and the split in Congress; The policy of Divide and Rule; Congress-League Pact of 1916.
3.6. Gandhian thoughts and techniques of mass mobilisation- Civil Disobedience, the Khilafat movement, Non-Cooperation Movement, and Quit India Movement; another strand in the National Movement-Revolutionaries, Subhash Chandra Bose, and the Indian National Army.
3.7. Separatist movements in Indian politics- the Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League; Partition and Independence; The post -1945 developments.
3.8. India independent to 1964. A parliamentary, democratic, secular. Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision, Foreign policy of Non-alignment, Planning and state-controlled industrialisation. Agrarian modification.

UPSC IAS PRE  EAXM SYLLABUS INDIAN AND WORLD GEOGRAPHY

1. Indian Geography

1.1. The basic idea about India, Location, latitude, longitude, time zone, Neighbouring countries, States and its position and the states on International boundaries, Important straits.
1.2. Physical features of India, The Himalayas, The Great North Indian plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal plains and Islands.
1.3. River systems – Characteristics, comparison and significance, Himalayan rivers, Peninsular rivers, River basins, Hydro-Power projects, Power plants and Major Dams, Regional development and planning, West flowing and east-flowing rivers, Interlinking of rivers.
1.4. Climate in India, Monsoon, Driving mechanism, Effects of La-Nino and El-Nino, Recent theories, Season of India, Cyclones.
1.5. Mineral and industries, Distribution of minerals, Industrial policies, Location factors, Issues and challenges of the industries, Industrial clusters.
1.6. Agriculture and Allied-characteristics and Problems, Land utilisation, Types of agriculture practices, Soils and Crops, Trends agriculture (Green revolution ), Irrigation, Major irrigation projects, Land reforms, Government policies and schemes, Animal husbandry (livestock resources).
1.7. Natural vegetation and fauna- Characteristics, importance, comparison and significance, Classification of natural vegetation, Rainfall distribution, Wildlife sanctuaries, National Forest Policy, Biosphere reserve, National parks , Environmental issues, Red-listed species (in recent news).
1.8. Economic infrastructure, Transportation, Road(National Highways)- Rail- Air- Water(Major inland waterways) and its Significance, Power and energy sector, Sources of conventional and non-conventional energy, Energy conservation and crisis, Recent developments.
1.9. Human geography, Demographics, Demographics.

2. World Geography & Physical Geography

2.1. Universe, Theories related to Solar System, Theories related to the formation of the universe, Recent updates on the same.
2.2. The basic idea about Earth, The motion of the Earth – Rotation and Revolution, Latitudes and Longitudes, The inclination of the Earth’s Axis – effect on seasons, Solar Eclipse, Lunar Eclipse and Tides and their significance.
2.3. Geomorphology, Earth’s movement (exo-genetic and endo-genetic), Earthquakes, volcanic activity, The basic idea about Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics Theory, Sea Floor Spreading.
2.4. Interior of the earth, lithosphere, Interaction of lithosphere with other spheres, Boundaries and composition.
2.5. Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits, Basic information about geographical landforms and their significance, Rock system and Classification of Rocks.
2.6. Climatology.
2.7. The hydrosphere.
2.8. Biosphere.
2.9. Economic geography.
2.10. Map work.
2.11. Places in News.

UPSC IAS PRE  EXAM SYLLABUS INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Preamble, Features of preamble, 42nd Amendment, Swaran Singh committee.
2. Schedules, The basic idea about 12 schedules.
3. Constitution of India, The basic idea about All articles, Historical Background, Drafting committee and the making of the Constitution, Influence of other constitutions, Its salient features.
4. Union and its Territory.
5. Citizenship, The basic idea about Article 5-11, PIO, NRI, OCI and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, etc.
6. Fundamental Rights (FR), The basic idea about Article 12-35, A thorough understanding of Articles 14- 30 and Art. 32, etc.
7. Fundamental Duties(FD), Article 51A, Difference between FR and FD, Significance and Criticism, Enforcement of FD’s, Recent issues about FD.
8. Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
9. Union.
10. Judiciary.
11. State Government- State Executive, Administration of Special Areas, Emergency Provisions, etc.
12. State- centre and interstate relations, Panchayati Raj and municipalities, Reservation, etc.
13. Constitution Bodies, Non-Constitutional Bodies, Tribunals, Special Provisions for SCs, STs, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians, etc.
14. Current affairs, Recent issues related to above-mentioned categories, Important schemes, programs, missions, laws, and policies launched by the government., Recent Government Bills and Governance- Actions, etc.

UPSC IAS PRE EXAM SYLLABUS INDIAN ECONOMY

Economic and Social Development

1. Economic growth and development – basic concept and definition of Economy and economics, uses and transfer of resources, distributive effects, macro and microeconomic policy, micro-macro balance, distributive impact of economic policies, development versus growth, determinant of growth and development, concepts such as HPI/MPI, HDI, PQLI, GEM, GDI/GII, TAI, Green index, sustainable development, India’s ranking in the various indices.
2. Poverty – definitions, causes, distribution-deprivation, income versus calories, measurement of poverty, the status of poverty, eradication programmes, poverty and resource policy, tribal rights and issues, livelihood mission.
3. Inclusion – definition, relevance, types, financial inclusion, recent initiatives.
4. Demographics – census data, populations by gender, by state, by age group, socio-economic status, caste, religion, literacy levels, etc. Trends in human development – interstate comparison, etc.
5. Fiscal policy – definition, component, receipts, revenue and capital account, tax revenue, expenditure, budget.

UPSC IAS PRE EXAM SYLLABUS GENERAL SCIENCE

1. Universe – Big Bang, Redshift, Blueshift, Star Formation – Stellar Evolution, Life Cycle of A Star, Solar System Formation – Nebular Theory of Laplace, Solar System – Planets, Inner Planets, Outer Planets, Sun – Internal Structure, Atmosphere.
2. Nuclear Fission, Nuclear Reactor Types, India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme, Cell Organelles – Plant Cell vs Animal Cell.
3. Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides, Polysaccharides, Proteins – Amino Acids, Enzymes, Vitamins and Minerals – Deficiency Diseases, Fats – Healthy Fats and Unhealthy Fats.
4. Animal Tissues – Epithelium, Connective Tissues.
5. Human Digestive System – Digestive Glands, Respiratory System – NCERT General Science, Endocrine Glands and Hormones, Human Neural System – Human Brain, Muscular and Skeletal System.
6. Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA, Recombinant DNA, Mitosis – Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Meiosis – Mitosis – Meiosis Comparison, Inheritance – Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Chromosomal Theory, Human Genome Project
7. Sex Determination – Genetic Disorders.
8. Diseases Caused by Microorganisms, Microbes in Human Welfare – Useful Microbes.
9. Immunity – Human Immune System.
10. AIDS, Cancer – causes, Drugs and Alcohol Abuse, Diseases – Acute, Chronic, Communicable Diseases, Blood – Blood Groups – Formed Elements.
11. Circulatory System, Double Circulation, Excretory System – Kidney, Urine Formation.
12. Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth, Biological Classification, Five Kingdom Classifications of Plants and Animals, Plant Parts and Their Functions.
13. Plant Kingdom – Halophytes, Bryophytes, Plants with Seeds – Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, Plant Tissue – Simple, Complex Permanent Tissue, Plant Nutrition – Photosynthesis, Nitrogen Cycle, Fixation, Sexual and Asexual Reproduction in Plants.
14. Classification of Animal Kingdom (Animalia), Classification of Vertebrata (Phylum Chordata).
15.Human Reproductive System, Biotechnology – Genetic Engineering – Processes and Applications.
16. Atomic Theory – Structure of an Atom.

UPSC IAS PRE  EXAM RECOMMENDED BOOKS

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