UPSC CIVIL SERVICES

UPSC Civil Services Main Examination
Revised Syllabus Pattern2013
The Civil Services Main examination is
designed to test the academic talent of the
aspirant, also his/her ability to present
his/ her knowledge in a clear and
coherent manner. 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 UPSC has revised the pattern of Civil
Services Main examination from 2013.
Now there are 7 + 2 = 9 papers to be
answered in the main examination and all
of them are of descriptive type. There are
two qualifying papers of 300 marks each
1) any modern Indian language 2) English,
whose marks will not be counted in the
main examination.
The total marks of the written
examination will be 1750 Marks.
The Interview/Personality Test will be of
275 marks.
The Grand Total 2025 Marks
The candidate is allowed to use any one
language from the Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution or English as the medium of
writing the examination.
There is only "ONE" optional subject to
choose from the list of subjects. It
comprises of two papers each of 250
marks with a total of 500 marks.
Candidate is allowed to take up literature
as an optional subject "without the
conditionality of having to do his/her
graduation in that language's literature.
The scope of the syllabus of optional
paper is higher than the bachelor's degree
but lower than the master's level.
According to the new pattern there are
"FOUR" General Studies paper each
comprising of 250 Marks with a total of
1000 Marks. So the weight-age of General
Study papers is increased.
The scope of the syllabus of General
Studies is of degree level.
Summary of the Latest Pattern of Civil
Services (Mains) Examination
Paper1
Essay - 250 Marks
Can be written in the medium
or language of the candidate's
choice
Paper - II
Language -300 Marks
Candidate can take any Modern
Indian language but this paper
is of qualifying nature
Paper - III
English -300 Marks
This paper is of qualifying
nature
Paper-IV
General Studies-I 250 Marks
(Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the
World and Society)
Paper-V
General Studies -II: 250 Marks
(Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and
International relations)
Paper-VI
General Studies -III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic
Development, Bio-diversity,
Environment, Security and
Disaster Management)
Paper-VII
General Studies -IV 250 Marks
(Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
Marks carried by General
Studies was 4X 250=1000
Paper-VIII
Optional Subject - Paper 1 -250
Marks
Paper-IX
Optional Subject - Paper II
-250 Marks
Candidate is allowed to take up
literature as an optional subject
"without the conditionality of
having to do his/her graduation
in that language's literature.
Sub Total (Written test) 2350
Marks
Marks of English and Language
will not be counted so total
marks for Written exam will be
2350 MINUS 600 = 1750
Marks
Interview/Personality Test -
275 marks
Grand Total 2025 Marks
A candidate is allowed to use
any one language from the
Eighth Schedule of the
Constitution or English as the
medium of writing the
examination.
The written examination will consist of
the following papers:
Paper A - English -300 marks - Qualifying
nature - Marks not counted- Passing
mandatory
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) Precis Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary
(iv) Short Essay.
Paper B - A - Modern Indian language 300
Marks - Qualifying nature - Marks not
counted - Passing mandatory-
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essay
(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 - 250 Marks - To be written in the
medium or language of the candidate's
choice - Candidates will be required to
write an essay on a specific topic. The
choice of subjects will be given. 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 250Marks (Indian
Heritage and Culture, History and
Geography of the World and Society)
Indian culture will cover the 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.
Paper-III
General Studies -II: 250 Marks
(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 and
responsibilities 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.
PAPER-IV
General Studies -III 250 Marks
(Technology, Economic Development, Bio-
diversity, Environment, Security and
Disaster Management)
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
Paper-V
General Studies -IV 250 Marks (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.
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.
Paper-VI
Optional Subject - Paper I -250 Marks
Paper-VII
Optional Subject - Paper II -250 Marks
{Candidates may choose any optional
subject from amongst the list of subjects
given in para 2 below (Group
1). NOTE:
(i) Marks obtained by the candidates for
all papers EXCEPT PAPER A & B will be
counted for merit ranking. However, the
Commission will have the discretion to fix
qualifying marks in any or all papers of
the examination