Complete syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Examination covering Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. Organized by paper with detailed topic breakdowns.
Objective (MCQ) · Screening
Objective-type screening test with 2 papers — General Studies (200 marks) and CSAT (qualifying). Held in June every year.
Descriptive · Merit-based selection
Descriptive examination with 9 papers — 2 qualifying language papers, 1 essay, 4 GS papers, and 2 optional subject papers. Total 1750 marks.
Oral · Final selection
Final stage assessing personality, leadership, communication, and suitability for a career in public service. 275 marks.
UPSC Prelims Paper I covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and general science. 100 MCQs worth 200 marks with 2 hours duration and negative marking.
UPSC CSAT Paper II tests comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, basic numeracy, data interpretation, and English language skills. Qualifying paper with 33% minimum.
UPSC Mains GS Paper I covers Indian heritage and culture, history, and world geography. 250 marks with descriptive answers in 3 hours. Covers art, literature, modern history, world events, and physical geography.
UPSC Mains GS Paper II covers governance, constitution, polity, social justice, and international relations. 250 marks descriptive paper testing understanding of Indian governance framework and foreign policy.
UPSC Mains GS Paper III covers technology, economic development, agriculture, biodiversity, environment, disaster management, and internal security. 250 marks descriptive paper on India's development challenges.
UPSC Mains GS Paper IV tests ethics, integrity, and aptitude. 250 marks paper covering ethical theories, public service values, emotional intelligence, case studies, and probity in governance.
UPSC Mains Essay paper requires writing two essays from a choice of topics, each carrying 125 marks. Tests analytical ability, clarity of expression, and depth of understanding on diverse topics.