UPSC Syllabus – Complete Guide for Aspirants

The UPSC Syllabus is the foundation for every aspirant preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). Along with the syllabus, it is equally important to understand the UPSC eligibility criteria before beginning preparation. A clear understanding of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, UPSC Mains Syllabus, and UPSC CSAT Syllabus helps candidates prepare in the right direction and stay focused on relevant topics.

Overview of UPSC CSE Syllabus

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages, and candidates must also be familiar with the detailed UPSC exam pattern and stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Screening stage

2. Main Examination (Mains) – Descriptive written test

3. Personality Test (Interview) – Final evaluation of personality and knowledge

Here’s a quick look:

UPSC Prelims Syllabus

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus consists of two papers:

• Paper I – General Studies (GS I) (200 marks)

  • Current Affairs (National & International)

  • Indian History & Freedom Movement

  • Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, Economic)

  • Indian Polity and Governance

  • Economic and Social Development

  • Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change

  • General Science

• Paper II – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) (200 marks, qualifying with 33%)

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

  • Decision-making and Problem Solving

  • Basic Numeracy and Data Interpretation (Class X level)

Both papers are objective type with negative marking (⅓ deduction for wrong answers). For better preparation, it is helpful to study past UPSC cut-off trends in Prelims (CSAT vs GS).

UPSC Mains Syllabus

The UPSC Mains Syllabus is descriptive and evaluates analytical ability, writing skills, and subject knowledge. It consists of 9 papers:

• Qualifying Papers

  • Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks)

  • Paper B – English (300 marks)

• Merit Papers (1750 marks)

  • Essay Paper (250 marks) – Two essays on given topics

  • General Studies Papers (250 marks each):

    • GS I: Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography

    • GS II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, International Relations

    • GS III: Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, Disaster Management

    • GS IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

  • Optional Subject Papers (2 papers, 250 marks each) – Candidate’s choice from a wide UPSC optional subjects list.

UPSC CSAT Syllabus

Though qualifying, the UPSC CSAT Syllabus remains important:

• Reading Comprehension

• Interpersonal Skills and Communication

• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

• Decision-making (no negative marking)

• General Mental Ability

• Mathematics (up to Class X level – numbers, percentages, ratios, averages)

• Data Interpretation (graphs, charts, tables)

Minimum 33% marks are required to qualify.

Key Takeaways

• The UPSC CSE syllabus is vast but clearly structured.

• Prelims tests elimination skills and quick decision-making.

• Mains requires strong writing ability and conceptual clarity.

• CSAT should not be ignored, as it is a qualifying paper.

• Regularly revisiting the syllabus helps keep preparation focused.

Final Words

The UPSC Syllabus is your roadmap to success in the Civil Services Examination. By breaking it into Prelims, Mains, and CSAT syllabus, aspirants can prepare systematically and avoid wasting time on irrelevant topics. Consistent revision, mock tests, and clarity of concepts aligned with the syllabus are key to clearing the UPSC CSE.