There are three stages of the exam:

• Stage 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type)

• Stage 2: Civil Services (Mains) Examination (Descriptive Type)

• Stage 3: Personal Interview (Personality Test)

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

Negative marking for each incorrect answer is one-third (0.33).

Stage 2: Mains Examination (Descriptive Type)

• Paper A and Paper B of UPSC Civil Services Mains are qualifying in nature only and the score secured in these papers are not considered while counting the candidates’ ranking.

• However, only those aspirants, who obtain at least 25% twenty-five per cent in Paper A and 25% in Paper B, will be taken into consideration while making of rank list on the basis of General Studies and Optional Subjects papers.

Papers qualifying in nature:

• Paper A – An Indian language selected by the candidates

• Paper B – English

Papers to be counted for merit:

• Essay (Paper I)

• General Studies (Paper II-V)

• Optional Subjects (Paper VI-VII)

MAIN EXAMINATION:

 SYLABUS OF MAIN EXAMINATION

• The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.
• The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study.
• The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.
• The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree 1evel i.e. a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than the masters’ degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.
• Syllabi of the papers included in the scheme of Civil Services (Main) Examination are given as follows:—

 QUALIFYING PAPERS ON INDIAN LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH

The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned. The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:

(i) Comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Précis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

Indian Languages:—

(i) comprehension of given passages.

(ii) Précis Writing.

(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.

(iv) Short Essays.

(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

(Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).

PAPER-I

Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

PAPER-II

GENERAL STUDIES-I:

1. Indian Heritage and Culture
2. History (Modern Indian History, Freedom Struggle, Post-Independece)
3. Geography of the World
4. Society

Indian Heritage and Culture

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Modern Indian History and World History

• 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.

• World History: 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.

Geography

• 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.

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.

PAPER-III

GENERAL STUDIES-II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

Polity and Constitution

• 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 and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

• Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.

Governance

• 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.

• 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.

Social Justice

• 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.

International relations

• 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.

PAPER-IV

GENERAL STUDIES-III

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Economic Development

• Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
• Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• 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.

Agriculture

• 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.

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.

Bio-diversity, Environment and Disaster Management

• Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Disaster and Disaster Management.

Security

• 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.

PAPER-V

GENERAL STUDIES- IV

• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
• (This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.) The following broad areas will be covered: